Thevoice was quiet, thin, and ethereal.
Isaacturned.
On asmall dais, over in a dusty corner, next to a pile of discarded machines, theresat a metal device.It was no larger than a cuirass, and a small lattice ofpipework, similar to the ones he had seen in the obelisk, had been crudelysoldered up through the floor, shunting directly into the metal.There wereloose wires, mixed with what appeared to be advanced transmission receivers.Atthe top of the device, a small purple cloud shone through the dust and gloom,seeming to shimmer inside an invisible barrier.
Isaacstumbled his way through the room, disturbing the torches with his wind.The dais was low enough to the floor that he needed to kneel,bringing himself level with the soul inside.When he did, he felt his skinglowing with the purple light.He could almost make out a face, if he lookedhard enough.
“Father?”he asked.
“In theflesh,” said the purple cloud.
Isaaccould only stare back.
“Sorry,”Caine said, his wisps shaking as he chuckled.“I’ve been saving that.”
Helooked down at the device.There were knobs and dials, some mechanical gaugesthat signified humidity, barometric pressure, a phrase he could only translateas “containment integrity”.Many of the displays seemed to be indicating a dropin energy.Several needles were slowly deflating to the bottom of the circulargauge, like the shadow on a sundial.In the center of the device, Isaac noted asingle, large button.It was painted red, and, though its function wasunmarked, its placement and size could only suggest that it held some greatimportance.
Isaachesitated, staring at the mechanical screens.Could he do something to arrestthe loss of energy?
Shouldhe?
Abovethe device, Caine shifted himself, drifting like a cloud of smoke.“Zaria,right?”
Thehyena had not followed Isaac to his father—instead, she was leaning against oneof the research stations on the opposite end of the room.The cutlass was on the bench at her side, still within easyreach.“Just keeping the peace.Don’t mind me.”
“Howcan I not?”Caine replied.“You’re the reason my son’s not feeding the wyrms.”
Zariashrugged.“That goes both ways, to be fair.”
“Ofcourse, of course.But, listen—thank you.Truly.I can never repay you enough,for all that you’ve done, though I hope what’s downstairs may serve as astart.”
“Downstairs?”
“You’llsee.”
Zarianodded, glanced at Isaac, and looked away.
Cainedrifted back to the center.“So, Isaac, how did you and the lovely lady meet?”
Heblinked, shifting back on his knees.“Uh—”
“Youlike them large, do you?Big and strong?I mean, I can understand a zoanthrope,they are physically gifted, but apirate, of all things?”
Isaacstammered.
“Oh, well,”his father said.“I can’t say I haven’t done the same.”A face was almostvisible in the cloud, like a suggestion of humanity.“You get sent off to anexpedition, you find an inn for the night, you meet some sellsword taking upspace at the bar, and if they do have fur or scales or whatever in between, Imean, so what?It’s a Diet rite of passage.Back before all this, more of myscars came from a bed rather than whatever dead we were fighting, much to mybrother’s consternation.”
Isaacmade a sound that might’ve been a laugh.
“Well,”Caine said, glowing a bit brighter.“Sorry to babble.She seems quite nice, allthings considered.”
“Sure.I mean....”He glanced back at Zaria.“Very nice.”
Thecloud drifted closer to his face.If Isaac looked closely, he could see some ofthe dust glinting inside, absorbing and detaching from the gaseous glow.
“Gods,”Caine said, “I still cannot believe howbigyou are.You’re so tall!Theterror of every doorway!How old are you, anyway?”
“I ...do you not ...?”
