The Farmer's Wife #020

Some time later, Anat left Anya sitting quietly a little way away and came back to the others.

Valdis and Matthias had extricated the pale child from the hollow. When Matthias had grasped his hand, he had stumbled blindly where the young Purgator led him. Not once did he look up, not even to see where he was going. His gaze remained fixed in the distance.

"Can you help him?" asked Valdis of Anat.

Anat stared at the child for several seconds before answering. "I do not know." He shook his head. "We know little of Vessels. Most that come to us are beyond any help save the final mercy. And... this child is strange."

"Strange?" asked Matthias.

"Vessels are mortals inhabited by shadows. Normally human, though I have heard tell of Vessels among the Ylln. But if there was a shadow in this child... Well, we would know beyond any doubt."

"He is a Vessel prepared, but unfilled," said Valdis thoughtfully.

Anat looked up. "What do you mean? Are you certain such a thing even exists?"

Valdis shook his head. "One can never be certain with Ygn's works. But... I have heard rumours of such things. Vessels that do not willingly give themselves as hosts to darkness, but are instead bound by some dark magic, so that any shadow can inhabit them."

"It makes sense," said Matthias. "He looks... empty. Like his mind has been cored out and only his body is left."

Valdis frowned. "It is not in Ygn's power to destroy the soul. Corrupt, yes, harm, yes, but it is not hers to banish it entirely."

"Then either her power has grown, or the child remains somewhere within," said Anat, stepping forward and rolling up his sleeves. "I will see what the Healer of mind and body reveals to me."

He placed his hand on the child's forehead and began muttering a prayer under his breath. Faintly, distantly, but definitely, Matthias felt the whisper of hope that marked the presence of Aleia. He basked in it for a moment, but then Valdis pulled him aside. His face was dark.

"The Brothers at the Temple taught you about willing Vessels of darkness, did they not?"

"Of course, Brother."

"Then you will know that even the assumption of a willing Vessel is a work of great power. The human soul cries out for life, for freedom, for choice. Even with the conscious decision of the victim to suppress that cry, it is still strong, and it is hard for any but the most powerful shadows to overcome it."

Matthias nodded.

"This, then..." continued the Purgator, gesturing at the child. "If this is what we think it is, it is the work of a shadow shadow more powerful and more cunning than anything I myself have ever battled. The suppression of a human soul that is still actively fighting for freedom..." He shook his head. "Aranaus guard us if we are to face a shadow powerful enough to do it."

"They are children, Brother. Perhaps it is... easier?"

"Children are strong, in their own way. But you may be right. Why, then, are three of the children dead?"

"Perhaps the power of the shadow overwhelms them?"

Valdis nodded. "Yes. That makes sense. We will make a Purgator of you yet. But... this child is not dead. Why leave him behind if the process succeeded?"

Matthias' brain span, connections lighting up in his mind. "Perhaps this is another kind of failure... An unsuitable Vessel, even though he survived."

"Yes. Good. What else?"

"Or... or... Oh no."

Valdis' brow furrowed. "What? What is it?"

"Or this was a test. This shadow is... experimenting. Improving."

The look of pride on the Purgator's face was mingled with something much darker. "Then these were not the last."

Matthias nodded grimly. "More children are going to be Taken."