Even using her personal and political leverage, it took Istar two days to arrange a meeting with the new ur-sikara, due to the turmoil in the besieged city. Just after daybreak, Kuari received her, the big Nunghal, and a cloaked man in her anteroom behind the vaulted primary worship chamber.
“This is my brother,” Istar said. “And as you can see, he is an Aidenist.”
Ciarlo shrugged back his hood to reveal the Fishhook symbol that hung at his throat.
Kuari’s eyes widened in surprise. Fortunately she did not respond with superstitious horror, but showed skepticism and dismay. “I didn’t think you were the type of woman to play a joke on me, Istar…” She shook her head. “The Tierran queen is pressing against God’s Barricade and the enemy navy has blockaded the western harbor. This is not a good time for a Fishhook worshiper to be in Ishalem.”
“On the contrary, Ur-Sikara, now may be the best time of all.” Istar still had hope, and possibly even faith.
Ciarlo stood beatifically before the head priestess. “I think that you and I should talk.” He laid two fingers on the fishhook pendant, all he needed in the world.
The ur-sikara paced around him, completing a full inspection as if he were some strange sort of animal. “If you think you can convert me, sir, you are sadly mistaken.” She seemed amused by the very idea.
“Not convert you, my Lady, but perhaps convince you to listen.”
Asaddan laughed. “I haven’t seen a lot of listening going on for quite some time. Neither Aidenists nor Urecari can claim to be the innocent ones.”
Kuari was surprised by the comment. “Haven’t you seen? Queen Anjine is outside our gates with the full Aidenist army!”
Istar stepped forward. “Yes, and what better time for the leader of the Urecari church to speak with her? What if I can convince the soldan-shah to do the same?”
Her heart had changed since learning that Saan and Criston had found each other. On the far side of the world, her son and his long-lost father had discovered a way to work together. Was it so impossible that the soldan-shah and the queen could speak? However, with Omra’s attention so focused on the enemy, Istar had not yet informed him of her arrival.
Istar began, “When I was a young woman, King Korastine and Soldan-Shah Imir came to Ishalem to sign the Edict, to forge a peace. But because of some careless spark and people too ready to cast blame, we were thrown into decades of war. We have been going in the same bloody spiral for more than twenty years.” Istar hadn’t realized how much this meant to her until she was reunited with Ciarlo; seeing her brother reawakened all those old memories. “Is that the course we want to set for ourselves, or should we take this opportunity to change? With your voice, and Ciarlo’s, and mine, maybe we can stop this.”
“We can look for common ground in the Book of Aiden and Urec’s Log, instead of battling over differences,” her brother suggested. “Aiden and Urec were both sons of Ondun, they both came from Terravitae, they both set off to explore the world, and they both landed on these shores. We are all their children, and Ondun created us all.”
Istar knew Kuari had a logical rather than fanatical mindset. That was why she liked the woman so much and had championed her as the new ur-sikara. But Kuari remained skeptical now. “Yes, and each side has inflicted bloody wounds on the other, year after year. Ships captured or sunk, villages raided and massacred, one murder in revenge for another, and then another one after that. Do you suggest we all take an apothecary’s potion to make us forget?”
“Perhaps to forgive,” Ciarlo said. “Ur-Sikara, you and I could spend the afternoon trading stories of atrocities, tit for tat, like colored marbles on a game board. Are we keeping score? Is Ondun keeping score?” He raised his eyebrows. “A better way, I think, would be to find verses in the scripture that tell us about forgiveness. I know there are many in the Book of Aiden.”
Kuari pondered for a moment. “And also in Urec’s Log. Lately, however, the sikaras do not include those lines in their homilies.” The head priestess ran a fingertip along her lips. “Despite what all the other sikaras say about our holy cause, I have not seen Ondun Himself showing any particular support for our side. Or yours.”
Istar clung to hope. Ciarlo smiled at the ur-sikara.
Just then alarms sounded throughout the city. After months of tension and troop buildup, the Aidenist army was marching toward the wall.