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Across the Worlds

Chapter 8: The seer and what he saw

A hush fell over the courtyard as the horses slowly trotted through the narrow gates, their hoofs clacking hard against the uneven stone ground. Black ribbons bound around the warrior’s arms fluttered idly in the wind. Each of the warrior’s faces was set into stony countenances that betrayed none of their true emotions.

Everyone’s eyes were drawn to a small litter slung between two of the horses.

“A warrior has fallen,” the head of the troop said in a solemn tone.

The elder seer bowed deep, sorrow on his face but he was bound by duty. He forced himself to be calm and spoke the expected ritualistic reply.

“The Temple shall mourn and rejoice,” he said in a quavering voice, “We sorrow at the loss of one of our own but we must celebrate at the life he led and all that he wrought in this world.”

The seer slowly straightened.

“Let the body be placed in the altar,” he commanded, “And let us cleanse his spirit for the afterlife.”

The seer stepped aside as two of the warriors dismounted carrying the litter between them. They disappeared into the Temple as amongst the crowd of orange-robed men, Inara and Susan supported Hu between them as he bitterly wept at the loss of his friend and comrade.

--

“These people are amazing,” Elias’s eyes gleamed as he paced the chambers that had been given to them, “Their history and culture and…”

Jason cleared his throat slightly and gave a subtle nod towards the beds. Elias turned and instantly saw Susan and Inara sitting close to each other, Zaru lying across their laps trying to comfort the two.

“Not now, Doc,” Jason said quietly, “Not now.”

--

Death.

The word just seemed so… final.

‘Well, duh,’ her mind whispered, ‘It is final!’

Inara could still see it in her mind’s eye, Jiang yelling at them to run whilst he sacrificed himself for them, to give them a chance of survival.

That was her last memory of him alive. The next memory had been the sight of his broken body half-hidden by white sheets as he lay deathly still in the litter.

He had been around her age.

She felt strangely detached from it all. He had died. She had seen him go to his death and yet it all seemed so unbelievable. She seemed to be feeling everything from grief to rage to bitterness but yet she felt nothing at all.

Funny… the women dying back in Shift’s world hadn’t affected her... not like this. It hadn’t made her question everything she knew. But somehow Jiang’s death…

Maybe it was because she had known him, even if it was only for a very brief time. She had talked to him and gotten to see who he was.

He was a warrior, a protector, a hero… and who was she?

That question made her stop.

In that split second, Inara saw the hollowness of her old life. What did she know? Did she know how to save a life? Would she be brave enough to did what Jiang did? What did anyone of her age in her world and time know of life… of anything? Everyone was in such a rush to buy, to hoard, to make themselves rich and beautiful and famous that they had forgotten you were born with an expiration date stamped on your forehead.

It wasn’t like she was going to dress herself up all in black, write really bad poetry and whinge about how much her life sucked but she accepted that one undeniable fact.

Everyone was going to die.

The question was… what was she going to do about it?

‘We must celebrate at the life he led and all that he wrought in this world.’

Those words echoed inside her head. How would she want to be remembered? What was she going to do with her life? Did she want to die now having achieved absolutely nothing?

A memory unfurled in her head along with a harsh drunken voice.

‘You’re never going to be good enough! You’re useless! You’re nothing! You’re…’

Inara accidentally bit on her own tongue and tasted blood. Violently she shoved the memory away from her.

No. She was stronger than that. She was going to be someone and in order to do that…

Inara took a deep breath and pushed Zaru off her lap.

“Yo,” she called out, “Cowboy!”

--

Susan felt Inara leave the bed but she was too numb to feel anything. She should’ve… she could’ve…

She hung her head and stroked Zaru’s furry neck without really being aware of it.

Susan knew that there was nothing she could’ve done. Jiang had seen it and known it and as much as it killed her to admit, she knew it as well.

This world and if Aslan was right, so many other worlds even it they didn’t even know it were at war and people died in wars. It was as simple as that. A harsh but undeniable truth.

But what was she going to do about it?

One thought solidify inside her head.

Jiang had given up his life so that they could live. A Darkness walked in this world and it had driven the Yin to them. Jiang had died trying to fight it.

There was a debt and it had to be repaid.

‘I will find the Darkness here,’ she vowed silently, ‘And I will crush it… for you.’

Zaru shifted off her lap as Susan stood up. Quietly, the Queen walked to the door, the talking leopard half a step behind her.

Elias looked up surprised but Susan brushed past him, Zaru ghosting her every move.

“Where are you going?” the professor asked.

Susan pushed the door open and she was gone.

“Where are they doing?” Elias wondered out loud but no one answered his question.

He turned expecting to see his other companions but he was alone inside the room.

“Jason?” he called out unsurely, “Inara?”

--

“You want to what?” Jason growled.

The two of them were in one of the enclosed courtyards of the Temple. Inara was standing before him, hands on her hips. She scowled at Jason’s hesitation.

“Teach me how to fight,” she said bluntly, “I need to.”
”Why?” Jason demanded, “Why are you so interested in becoming a warrior maiden?”

“Because I’m going to die if I don’t,” Inara snapped back.

Jason stared at her, slightly surprised at the matter-of-fact way she had just said those words. Inara bit her lip choosing her next words carefully.

“You and I are the same,” Inara began finally.

Jason snorted.

“Hey now!” Jason protested, “Don’t go insulting me…”

“Of course I am so much more prettier but whatever,” Inara cut him off, “But both of us want to go home. And to get home we might have to travel through a lot of worlds. And if kitty cat Zaru’s right, there’s darkness in each world we have to destroy. I need to be prepared.”

Jason eyed him warily.

“Seems to me you’re faring fine,” Jason said gruffly.

Inara raised her eyebrow at the unusual display of sentiment. Jason was looking awkward so Inara fought down the urge to tease him.

“I’m blushing,” Inara smirked, “But we both know I got lucky when I tricked Shift. And I got lucky again last night with the Yin. If I didn’t have you guys to protect me… well… let’s just say you won’t be hearing my dulcet voice again.”

Inara took a deep breath, she needed him to see that she was dead serious about this.

“I need to learn how to defend himself. I need to learn how to survive so I can get home and not die on the way.”

Jiang’s face flashed before her eyes with a solemn pang. A strange look flashed in her eyes and she remembered the vow she had made to herself just before. Inara stared in Jason’s dark blue ones letting him see her sincerity.

“I want to be remembered,” she said finally, cryptically.

Jason still looked unswayed. She sighed.

“Plus, I’m kinda sick of being a dead-weight. I mean Queenie’s got her awesome archery, Doc’s got his… uhh… eccentricity and sci-fi knowledge, you’ve got your hardcore Seeker skills and Zaru… well, he’s a leopard!” Inara jutted her chin out stubbornly, “Aren’t you tired of me dragging the proverbial team down?”

Jason shook his head but he began to shrug off his battered brown coat revealing his silken shirt.

“I must be going crazy but…” Jason sighed, “Fine.”

“What?” Inara blinked.

“Fine,” Jason said firmly.
Inara’s eyes lit up and she clapped her hands together. She’d won!!

“Great! When do we start?”

Inara let out a cry as Jason suddenly lunged at her throwing a right hook straight at her face. She only just managed to dive out of the way hitting the ground in an awkward heap.

“Right now,” Jason smirked, “Come on! Let’s see what you’ve got!”

Inara climbed unsteadily to her feet, muttering about her psychos as her first training session began.

--

“I thought you’d be here,” Susan’s voice seemed so wrong in this place, a violation of this sanctuary.

Hu turned around, scrubbing hard at his eyes.

“Your Majesty!”

“Call me Susan or Queenie,” Susan’s lips twitched, her smile quickly died away.

Hu managed to give her a trembling smile before it fell away as more tears pricked his bloodshot eyes.

“I’m sorry,’ he turned away, “I shouldn’t be showing weakness especi…”
”Grieving is not a weakness,” Susan said sharply.

She raged at the thought that anyone would tell such a young boy that crying was wrong. That weeping for a fallen comrade was somehow weak.

“Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” Susan said fiercely.

She slowly walked up to Hu and stood by his side. Zaru laid himself down near the doorway, guarding his Queen as always.

“He was my friend…my brother,” Hu whispered brokenly.

The two of them stood silent for a second in the cool catacombs beneath the ancient Temple. Spread out all around them along thousands of ledges carved deep into the stone was tiny urns, their glaze reflecting the flickering torches embedded into the walls.

“Centuries of warriors… their ashes remain down here,” Hu said quietly, “It is constant remind to all who dwell at the Temple that nothing is eternal and that each day must be taken command of lest we perish with nothing.”

Susan’s blue eyes simply took in everything around her. So many fallen warriors…

Her throat tightened as she wondered how many had died before their time.

“I hate this place,” Hu whispered.

“I don’t blame you,” Susan said frankly, “So many reminders of death.”

“No, not just these tombs,” Hu growled, “Everything! I hate this Temple!”

Susan turned to him and Hu glared back with blazing eyes. His sorrow had been pushed away, a dark rage burning through the wretchedness.

“This place has taken so much away from me!” he hissed.

Susan physically recoiled at the venom in his voice, her mouth wide open. Zaru rose to his feet, growling softly but Susan shot him a warning look ordering him to stay back.

The leopard hissed but slowly lay back down, his grey eyes cautious. Susan turned back to Hu who was pacing the chamber, twitching violently.

With a cry, he whirled around.

“My family… my childhood and now this!” Hu punched the walls, screaming in frustration, “Why? Why me?!”

He slammed his fist into the stone again uncaring that his knuckles were now bleeding.

“Why?” he flung the words at Susan like a knife, “Tell me!! WHY?!”

“I don’t know,” Susan said sadly, “You’re asking the wrong person.”

“It’s not fair!” Hu stamped his feet, screaming like a child, “It’s just not FAIR!!”

“No, it’s not,” Susan whispered.

How many times had she said those words before? Back in Narnia after each skirmish was over and her people lay dead at her feet, she had wanted to scream out all of her pain, demanding to know that one unsolvable question.

Why did things happen? Fate? Destiny? Aslan’s will?

“I SHOULD’VE BEEN THERE!!” Hu screamed, “I SHOULD’VE…”

“Hu… it’s not your fault,” Susan said softly.

She slowly pushed his trembling arm down to his side. Her blue eyes looked deep into his. The tears were spilling down his face in a steady stream.

“You can’t blame yourself for what happened,” Susan gave a small sad laugh, “By the Mane! Maybe I should be listening to this… you can’t blame yourself and you can’t blame this Temple. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It just happened.”

She fell silent and tried to remember what Oreius the centaur had told her so long ago in the Golden Ages.

“There are times which test us. Moments which tear us apart and makes us bleed and hurt and weep. These times are inevitable,” Susan spoke with all the wisdom of a true Queen, “You cannot hide and hope they won’t come because they will. But the question is… what are you going to do what it happens? Because it is your actions in those times that define who you truly are.”

Hu trembled in her grasp. Slowly Susan drew her arms around her and lay his head down on her shoulder. Hu stiffened but slowly relaxed into her.

Zaru watched her, respect and awe glittering in his eyes as Hu cried into her shoulder. Susan looked down at him sympathetically.

“So, Hu what kind of man are you?”

--

Elias cocked his head to the side staring at the stone carvings along the doorway.

“Fascinating… ancient scriptures,” he marvelled.

The scientist was quickly lost in his own world, his never-ending thirst for knowledge driving all else out of his head even the traumas they had all just been through.

This was a new world for him to discover and there was so much to learn.

He might’ve been a physicist back in his own world but the sheer breadth of his knowledge was almost unbelievable.

From languages to archaeology to chemistry to anthropology to social sciences to molecular biology to medicine… Elias had studied them all in his lifetime, devouring each subject with his unmatchable mind.

Physics was his one true passion but even that paled in comparison to his insatiable need to just learn about anything and everything.

“Fascinating is it not?”

A brisk voice made him jump. Guiltily, Elias turned and stared into the face of a seasoned warrior. The man’s head was clean-shaven like all who dwelled in the Temple. Shiny pinked healed scars marred the man’s golden skin but it was his dark intelligent eyes that drew Elias.

“Da Long,” the man bowed eloquently, “Master of the Temple warriors.”

Elias beamed back.

“Professor Elias Denton… uhh… Master Physicist,” Elias turned back to the carvings behind him, “What is this?”

“You are standing at the doorway of the Chamber as you might have noticed,” Da Long glanced around, smiling slightly, “Not many people like to be around it.”

Elias looked around and realised with a startle, the hallway was deserted.

“What is this Chamber?” Elias frowned, “I remember something about it being a test and giving people the gift of the body?”

“The powers of the body,” Da Long stepped around Elias and placed one calloused palm against the cool stone archway.

A thick set of metal doors sealed the Chamber shut and it was on this that Da Long looked at, his dark eyes lost in some internal thought.

“The boys at this Temple are not taught to fight until they have passed the Chamber.”

“So what do they do?” Elias demanded.

“They are taught to have discipline of mind and spirit. Only those who are strong in these can hope to pass the testing of the Chamber.”

“What is it?” Elias asked curiously, dark eyes scanning the carvings once more.

Da Long shrugged.

“Nobody knows. The Chamber was discovered at the dawn of our history and this Temple was built up around it. Perhaps it is a gift from the Holy Spirits themselves… or a curse. More than one boy has been driven mad by what they’ve seen inside.”

“The Chamber makes you face your fears right?” Elias remembered.

Da Long shook his head gravely.

“Not fears. It reaches into the darkest parts of your mind and conjures up demons from your own thoughts. All doubts inside of you are laid open by the testing and you must learnt to overcome them. If you pass the Chamber will give you a gift… powers and strength beyond those of mortal men,” Da Long looked at Elias, his gaze piercing the professor’s, “You are man of logic and facts and that is admirable. But there are some things like this Chamber which are beyond what can be explained by mere reason.”

Da Long suddenly turned away from the Chamber.

“Come,” he said abruptly, “Mid-meal awaits.”

Elias opened his mouth to protest but his words died on his lips as Da Long firmly gripped his arm and began leading him away. The professor threw one last longing glance back at the dark doors of the Chamber before they rounded a corner and it disappeared from view.

--

“What happened to you?” Susan demanded.

Inara walked with solemn dignity towards their table. Everyone in the Temple ate in the one giant dining hall, the sounds of clacking cutlery and noisy conversation echoing off the high ceiling. Seated on one of the many tables spread across the room, Susan waited for an answer as Inara casually flicked the hair from her face.

“Nothing,” Inara hedged.

A livid bruise was spread across one of her cheeks.

“Really?” Zaru smirked, “Looks like you wrestled a minotaur.”

Inara tried to snarl at Zaru but winced at the movement.

“What happened?” Susan demanded again.

“Did someone hit you?” Elias asked worriedly as Inara slowly sat down, moving as if every joint in her body hurt.

“Yes,” Inara said shortly, “Only because I wanted him to.”

“What?” Susan blinked.

Her answer came in the form of a tall cowboy limping up to their table.

“Jason? What happened to you?” Susan asked, completely confused.

She looked from Inara and Jason trying to work it all out.

“She fights dirty,” Jason accused, jabbing a finger in Inara’s direction.

Inara tried to smile triumphantly but again it only caused her pain. Wincing, she settled for a small satisfied smile.

“Been teaching her to fight,” Jason growled.

He slowly sat down and grabbed a small bun, tearing into it with his teeth. Susan sighed at his terrible table manners before throwing a napkin in his direction. Jason casually caught it and tossed it aside.

“She’s better than I thought,” Jason admitted grudgingly.

“Really?” Elias looked at Inara curiously.

Inara managed a small proud smile.

“Dabbled in some gymnastics when I was younger that helped a little. Lived in a not so wonderful neighbourhood and had a kindly neighbour who knows some very unkindly self-defence moves… that helped a lot,” Inara smiled sweetly at Jason who glowered darkly at her, “I stomped on his foot.”

“Pretty fast as well,” Jason surmised slurping from a cup of water.

“So, she’s good at it?” Susan asked surprised.

Inara frowned.

“You don’t need to sound so shocked you know,” she muttered under her breath but Jason’s reply drowned her out.

“I said she was better than I thought,” Jason shrugged, “I didn’t have very high expectations. It just means I don’t have to hold back as much.”

“You punched me!” Inara said incredulously pointing at her bruise, “That was holding back?”

“I didn’t break anything did I?” Jason smirked.

Inara had to laugh at that. Susan sighed and gently touched Inara’s arm drawing her attention.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked.

Inara looked squarely at her all laughter and humour gone in her eyes, it was replaced by cool purpose and a ferocious burning desire to succeed. Susan nodded approvingly.

“You might want to put something cold against that reduce the swelling,” she advised Inara, “Also try to take a hot bath tonight, it’ll ease the aches in your body.”

“How do you know about all that?” Zaru asked curiously from his position by her knees.

“I was trained to fight once,” Susan said dryly, “Believe me, I remember the initial aches.”

“Thanks, mum,” Inara replied lightly, “Will do.”

Susan’s eyes blurred as she remembered all the times her siblings had teased affectionately by calling her mum. The same familiar dark fear about her family rose in mind but Susan was stronger than that. Hurriedly she blinked back the tears and focused once more on the conversation around her.

“… the most amazing carvings,” Elias was explaining to two humans and a leopard who was blatantly more interested in food, “I could not believe…”

“Your Majesty?”

A young boy of no more than eight had appeared at her side. Susan again almost broke down again at the suddenly memory of Jiang calling her that with the same cautious respect.

“Yes?” she said throatily.

“My master wishes to see you and one of your companions in his chambers,” the boy bowed deeply, “He said it was important.”

Susan frowned.

“Companions? Which one?” Susan asked confused.

The boy glanced at Jason but seemed afraid to talk to the man. Susan smiled softly at his obvious hesitancy and couldn’t blame him.

“We’ll come,” Susan rose elegantly to her feet, “Cowboy. Come on.”

“Why?” Jason demanded loudly.

But Susan didn’t give him a chance to argue as she hurried after the boy, Zaru trotting right behind her shooting one last regretful look at his half-finished meal.

--

“So what do you want me for?” Jason asked without preamble.

He had been slightly surprised when he realised the man he was seeing was the same man he had seen in the courtyard earlier today, the man who had received Jiang’s body… the elder seer, master of all seers in the Temple.

Wisps of white smoke hung around the seer’s face as the old man peered blearily into the copper crucible before him, strange aromatic herbs burning in its burnished base. His chapped lips moved silently as he murmured quietly to himself, words too soft to be heard.

Jason tapped his foot impatiently and scowled at the old man. His stomach growled reminding him that he hadn’t finished eating yet. The Seeker was idly wondering what would happen if he sent the crucible flying when the seer suddenly spoke up.

“Patience youngling,” the seer called out, laughter in his voice, “I am reading the ways of the smoke.”

“Does it have a happy ending?” Jason muttered darkly.

“It does not look good,” the old man admitted finally looking up.

He smiled warmly, more wrinkles appearing on his lined grizzled face. Quickly, he placed a small lid on the crucible and put it aside. As Jason watched, the old monk moved to the windows, which was just a simple slit in the stonework and pushed the drapes aside. The fragrant smoke instantly dispersed as the seer finally turned back to Jason.

“It seems rude I know a lot about you and yet you don’t know my name,” the seer said in the way of a greeting, “I am Chu Xing.”

“I’d give you my name but it seems you know it already,” Jason said sourly.

Chu Xing smiled enigmatically.

“You are Jason Sierre, although you don’t like to use your last name anymore,” Chu Xing said without blinking, “Jason from a world of desert and eternal drought, a land known to some as Lawless. In that world you are a Seeker. A bounty hunter who tracks down humans for a price.”

Jason was unnerved by all of this information but put on a bland face as Chu Xing continued.

“You also possess powers that put you above your fellow men… or so you believe,” the elder seer continued, his sharp eyes noting Jason’s nervous foot-tapping, “You have a knack for seeing things that other people don’t… also a peculiar insight that generally warn you when people are lying. You are an unnaturally good judge of character.”

Chu Xing fell silent giving time for Jason to interrupt but the Seeker was stubbornly silent.

“More obviously you have the power to move things with your mind. Some worlds would call you a psychic. In Lawless you are simply known as ‘gifted’,” the elderly monk continued eloquently.

“If you know so much about me why did you want to talk to me?” Jason snarled, shocked by the breadth of Chu Xing’s foresight.

“Perhaps I dreamed I must see you,” the seer said cryptically.

The monk seat down and indicated for Jason to do so. The Seeker glared at him and stubbornly continued to stand. The monk sighed but continued talking.

“I am well aware of your history… of what you have lost,” Chu Xing said delicately.

Instantly the blood drained from Jason’s face as his hands clenched into trembling fists.

“What?” the word was spoke as a dangerous threat daring the man to continue.

“The reason why I speak of this is because it is linked to your powers,” the monk angled a piercing look at him, “You must be aware what you wield right now is a mere shadow compared to the true gift you have.”

Jason frowned as sweat rolled down his face. Every fibre in his body, every single ounce of common sense in his head told him to run, to flee from whatever dark secret this man was going to reveal. But Jason had never been a man to run.

Maybe it was a need to know, to face his demons or maybe he was just a sadist.

“Explain yourself,” Jason ordered.

“When you lost what you lost,” Chu Xing continued, “Your mind shut itself. You couldn’t deal so your mind dealt for you. It pushed your memory of those events and every other memory linked to it and locked it behind a shield. Would I be wrong in saying that you have a massive gap in your life you can’t account for?”

All pretence of courage fled as Jason stared wildly at Chu Xing, horror spread all over his weathered face. Somewhere inside his mind, he heard a little voice shrieking at him to stop. To stop this man from tearing at the old scars and wounds that had yet to heal.

“You woke up in a town one day completely alone with no memory of the past six years of your life,” Chu Xing said bluntly, “You caused that memory loss.”

Jason shuddered and fought an insane urge to run as he forced himself to listen.

“But it takes a great amount of strength to maintain that block and so the body of your powers are spent in preserving this shield between your nightmares and your normal thoughts,” Chu Xing continued carefully studying the Seeker, “So your true talent is still unknown even to you.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Jason said in a tight voice.

“Because all of you who are Chosen by the Holy Spirits… that which the Queen calls Aslan and others call by different names… have been pitted against a great Darkness. The only hope of victory is for all of you to unlock every potential inside you,” Chu Xing sighed sadly, “Some are already inside of you crying out to be freed… others will be acquired after many sorrows and trials.”

Chu Xing looked at Jason with sympathetic eyes. The tall Seeker was ghostly pale, his teeth gritted together as though he was in great pain.

“What would you have me do?” Jason asked finally in a child’s voice, “What do you want from me?”

“Nothing,” Chu Xing frowned, “I know I must tell you this because I foreseen I must. I am merely telling you what has to be done. The task will be fulfilled in other worlds.”

The monk rose to his feet.

“Have courage young one,” Chu Xing said with a small smile, “Much depends on you but yet there is still hope for victory.”

Jason stared helplessly at the man, his mind in utter turmoil as dimly he was aware of something dark and monstrous in his mind, pressing on the thin membrane of its prison, fighting to break free. He shuddered and violently shoved the feeling away forcing his mind to wrench away from whatever horrific memory was crystallised within.

Chu Xing nodded as if something had been agreed between them.

“Good fortune to you,” Chu Xing sighed, “You will need it.”

--

“Jason?” Susan looked up as the door was banged open.

The Seeker pushed roughly past her almost knocking her over as Zaru sprang to his feet, growling in warning.

“Peace,” Susan ordered quickly, “Jason?”

The man practically ran down the hall ignoring her worried calls. Susan glanced at Zaru in puzzlement.

“What was that about?” Zaru asked.

The Queens shrugged helplessly as she looked at Jason’s retreating back. She pursed her lips and suddenly had a sinking feeling that seeing this elder seer would not be an enjoyable experience.

Memories of centaurs informing her of what they had learnt from the stars flood her mind. She shuddered remembering the various disasters, bloodshed and doomsdays the centaurs had calmly reported. What if…

Aslan. Her family. Caspian. What if this seer told her that…

Susan teetered for a moment, seriously contemplating running back to her chambers but the rustle of robes robbed her of that chance.

“Please,” Chu Xing said warmly, “Come in.”

Susan gulped and stepped forwards.

--

“Your family is alive,” Chu Xing said softly, his eyes kind.

“What?” Susan gaped at him.

Chu Xing chuckled.

“That was your first concern correct?” Chu Xing smiled.

Susan nodded dumbfounded.

“They are alive as is your…” Chu Xing clucked his tongue searching for the right word, “Your friend, King Caspian.”

Susan flushed at the unsaid implication.

“As is Aslan,” Chu Xing said finally.

“Thank you,” Susan whispered warmly, “Thank you.”

Chu Xing smiled.

“No need to thank me. I am merely the messenger. Now…” Chu Xing settled back into his chair, “You have a question for me?”

“What?” Susan blinked, “What do you mea…”
She trailed off as a random thought popped into her head. She blinked and Chu Xing’s smile widened.

“Do you mean…” she said unsurely.

Chu Xing merely nodded. Susan took a deep breath and steeled herself for the answer.

“Why was I the only one left? Why did this Darkness take me with the others?” she asked looking at Chu Xing for any hint of falsehood.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Chu Xing smiled sadly, “You chose to forget. You lost your faith… even if it was only for a little while. You lost it. And the Great Darkness thought you were not a threat because you would no respond to the call of Aslan.”

Susan flushed brightly.

“I didn’t mean to forget…” she said awkwardly, “I tried to because…”

She stopped, horrified at how close she was to telling this complete stranger everything about her and Caspian.

She closed her eyes the memory of his face and his dark eyes burned in her mind. And that one kiss… that one wonderful, dreadful, soul-searing kiss…

Her eyes flickered open and saw Chu Xing watching her carefully.

“It is hard to see what could’ve been and then be robbed of it,” he said offhandedly, “You a very strong.”

Susan flushed at the frank admiration in the old man’s eyes.

“If I was strong I wouldn’t have stopped believing,” she argued.

“If you hadn’t stopped Aslan would’ve lost a great leader and a formidable warrior and perhaps all would’ve been lost,” Chu Xing pointed out, “Perhaps it was fate that made you forget.”

Susan laughed sadly.

“No,” Susan shook her head, “It was all me.”

“Than we should all be grateful,” Chu Xing suddenly clapped his hand, “Enough of all this talking! I have a beautiful young girl before me, it should be time for laughter and entertainment!”

Susan had to laugh at the old man’s humour. The elder seer held up a small ceramic pot, steam spewing from its long spout.

“Tea?” he asked waggling his eyebrows.

Susan laughed and accepted a cup.

--

It was night but Hu could not sleep. Shakily, he climbed out of his pallet, his shirt sticking to the hot sweat dripping all over his body.

Stumbling in the dark, he managed to make his way to the corner of his room where a table and basin stood.

Splashing his face with the water inside, Hu looked up into the small mirror hanging on the wall.

“Jiang…” he whispered.

He slowly lowered his head.

“I hate this place,” he hissed, the darkness of the night and his dreams crushing down on him, the Queen’s wisdom lost in a whorl of self-loathing, “I hate this place.”

‘Youngling…’

Hu looked up surprised and almost cried out. His mirror showed not his reflection but utter unending darkness.

‘Youngling…’

A pair of eyes, bloodshot but still vaguely human peered out of the darkness in the mirror and stared deep into his soul.

‘I hear you…’ the voice hissed.

“What?” Hu looked around desperately searching for a weapon, “Foul spirit be gone!!”

‘I can help you…’

The eyes blinked lazily.

“What?” Hu took a step backwards, confused.

‘You want to avenge your friend? Regain what you have lost in your childhood?’ the soft voice chuckled, ‘I can help you.’

Hu looked deep into the mirror and the eyes stared back.

‘Come on youngling… don’t you want to prove yourself? Don’t you want to avenge your friend? Are you brave enough? Are you that kind of warrior? What kind of man are you?’

Hu blinked and he could feel all of his inhibitions and doubts and fears float away. He whispered two simple words.

“Do it.”

And the darkness laughed.

--

This chapter is a lot different to the previous ones in that there's pretty much no action but a lot of character development and contemplation.

I really hope you've liked what I've done because I think this is an imporant chapter especially for Inara as a character and for opening up new mysteries (Jason's past) as well as answering some questions (such as why Susan wasn't taken with the others)

Oh and just as a side note, I'm really interested in hearing what you would like to see in a NEW WORLD. So if you have any ideas or suggestions please put them into your reviews. If any idea really sparks my imagination I'll take it!