Kushiel's Mercy

Kushiel's Mercy

Kushiel's Mercy Cover Art
Author	Jacqueline Carey
Cover artist	Cheryl Griesbach and Stanley Martucci
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Imriel Trilogy
Genre	Fantasy novel
Publisher	Warner Books
Publication date	12 June 2008
Media type	Print (Hardback)
Pages	653 pp (hardback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-446-50004-6 (hardback)
Preceded by	Kushiel's Justice

Kushiel's Mercy is the final novel in Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey. It is the sequel to Kushiel's Justice. Kushiel's Justice follows Kushiel's Scion, which makes Kushiel's Mercy the sixth book in the series, or the third book in the series dubbed the "Imriel Trilogy."

What Came Before

After burying the head of Dorelei's murderer, Berlik, at her feet, Imriel and Sidonie, accompanied by Alais, Drustan, and a company of both Alban and D'Angeline soldiers set off once again for Bryn Gorrydum, and then for home. Along the way, Sidonie takes matters into her own hands and, in front of everyone, takes Imriel into her tent. That night, they learn each other again and their hopes and passions are rekindled. Upon reaching Bryn Gorrydum, they board the Cruarch's ship with Phèdre and Joscelin, bound once more for Terre d'Ange, and Sidonie's disapproving mother, Queen Ysandre.

Plot Summary

Mourning Arrival

Upon reaching the City of Elua, Sidonie and Imriel find that there are many people awaiting them. Some, like the Yeshuites and the Tsingani, are there simply because Imriel was Phèdre nó Delaunay's foster-son. Also there, however, are small knots of people, each wearing black armbands around one of their arms, signifying death. They all hold out their fists, thumbs pointed downward. Imriel later learns that these people are the families of his mother, Melisande Shahrizai's, victims.

In the City, Imriel parts ways with his foster parents, Phèdre and Joscelin Verreuil, declining their offer to stay at the townhouse in favor of confronting Queen Ysandre. Upon reaching the palace, Imriel comes to find that the Queen has seemed to have cooled off since he had last seen her. His room are ready for his use and he takes the opportunity to have a much-needed bath. Hearing a commotion outside his door, he allows his cousin, Mavros Shahrizai, to be admitted to see him.

Mavros comes in and begins berating Imriel for not sending word and worrying him. His anger melts away, though, and he sits and listens to Imriel's story - of Imriel's hunt for Berlik, how he was captured, how Berlik wanted to die, and how Imriel made it back and buried Berlik's head at Dorelei's feet. The conversation eventually drifts to Imriel and Sidonie, and Mavros offers the support of House Shahrizai, though he warns that it may not count for much.

Imriel is then summoned for a private audience with the Queen, in her private chambers, but viewed by the Secretary of the Presence. The Queen thanks him for avenging Dorelei's death, then promptly dismisses him, telling him they'll talk about the "other matter" at another time. She also tells him that a Priest of Elua would be by to see him soon. One of Sidonie's personal guard finds him after the audience, and tells him that the Dauphine has requested to see him. He follows and tells Sidonie about the upcoming meeting with the Priest of Elua. Sidonie says that she has done the same and that Imriel now needs to convince him that his love for Sidonie is genuine.

The Queen, as a way of delaying her decision, decides to treat Imriel and Sidonie's love like it does not exist. Eventually, the summons from the Priest of Elua comes. Imriel asks Sidonie what she had said to convince the Priest. She says that she spoke of how, sometimes, it isn't the person who choses but love itself. She had said that her mother would have allowed her anyone else but that then she would have learned nothing of the power and might of love. More than that Sidonie does not mention, saying that she wants Imriel's reactions and replies to be genuine and not appear rehearsed.

The next day, Imriel goes to see the priest. He is escorted to the large common area and finds that there are priests of all of Elua's companions, except Cassiel, there to decide on the sincerity of his love. Imriel tells the priests and priestesses of how he loved Sidonie, how he would do anything for her, how others had been hurt because they had defied Blessed Elua's precept. Even though Irmiel can not explain why, he does his best to make his feeling known. The Kusheline priest is the first to declare that he believes Imriel. The priestess of Namaah and priestess of Eisheth both voice their approval at the exact same moment. After some discussion, the opinion is shared by Shemhazai's priest, Anael's priestess, Azza's priest, and the priest of Camael. The priest of Elua verifies with his counterparts and informs Imriel that he will deliver their opinions directly to the Queen.

Finally the time has arrived for Ysandre to deliver her deicision on Imriel and Sidonie's relationship. Before a packed Hall of Audience, Ysandre askes both Sidonie and Imriel if it is still their wish to be united and acknowledged in the eyes of the realm and the throne. Upon their consent, Ysandre declares that she will not forbid their relationship because the priests declare their love to be genuine and she must abide by Elua's precept, "love as thou wilt". BUT, their relationship is causing much turmoil in the kingdom and verging on civil disrest. So, if Sidonie declares Imriel her consort, Ysandre says she will not acknowledge it and thereby give it no legal binding. If Sidonie marries Imriel, Ysandre states she will disinherit her and her title to the thrown will go to Alais. The only way around this vow, unofficially understood, is for Imriel to find and bring his mother to justice - the execution she managed to escape from twenty-one years ago.

The Many Uses of the Unseen

Following this declaration, Imriel, Sidonie, and a few of their closest, most trusted friends hold a conference of their own to decide what to do. Sidonie immediately dismisses the idea of setting off to find Melisande anytime soon, on the ground that she wants Imriel to be around as long as humanly possible. Imriel proposes the idea of asking The Master of the Straits for assistance, by searching with his mystical sea-mirror.

That night, Imriel realizes that he has to tell Sidonie about a shadowy part of his history - his involvement with the Unseen Guild. He speculates that could find his mother's whereabouts by contacting them but, to do so, he has to tell Sidonie of the dangers they present. Once she is informed, she goes to find her mother and have a talk about the situation. During this time, Imriel is asked to see Claude de Monluc, the captain of Sidonie's guard. It appears that Claude de Monluc is worried that Imriel might be after his post. Imriel manages to alay his fears and they come to an understanding. Upon her return from her talk with her mother, Sidonie tells Imriel that her mother already knew of the Unseen Guild, from Phèdre. Though Imriel had told Phèdre a year earlier, he did not know that she had told the Queen.

In the months that follow, they settle into a routine. There are Parliamentary decisions to made, parties to attend, plans to be made. Finally, word comes back from The Master of the Straits. Melisande is not on Alban or d'Angeline soil. She is somewhere else. Imriel realizes that he will have to call upon the Unseen Guild and decides to contact Diokles Agallon, who had approached Imriel for a favor on the Guild's behalf a couple years before.

Before he puts that plan into motion, however, he decides to get as much out of his situation as he can. The Longest Night is aproaching and he and Sidonie decide to attend it together. Calling on Farielle nó Eglantine, the two decide on their theme for their costumes - Night and Day. Imriel would be Night and Sidonie Day. The Palace Ball goes smoothly except, however for a minor lord from one of the estates bordering one of Imriel's holdings. The lord, who is more than a little drunk, begins to insult Sidonie publicly. It becomes clear that the lord has been put up to this by Barquiel L'Envers, who still has a deep-seated grudge against Imriel. Both are promptly thrown out by Ysandre herself.

Finally, with the arrival of winter, the time had come for Imriel to put his plan into motion. He writes to Diokles, being very vague and suggestive in his letter. Once sent, he settles into his other problems. Finally spring arrives and people began to wonder at Imriel's lack of action. Sidonie dismisses the guards in her service who have been gossiping about her and Imriel's relationship and finds that there are many more who apply to take these positions. Upon choosing the replacements, she finds that they want to dote on her. Soon after, Imriel decides to keep his long-standing promise to Alais and goes to Montrève to select a new puppy for her. Sidonie goes with him and they passed several days of happiness and peace with Phèdre and Joscelin at Montrève.

From Carthage With Love

At long last, Imriel's response arrives. But it was not what he had expected. To all outward appearances, the letter seemed to be a love note from a besotted peer. Upon further inspection, however, Imriel finds the note contains a hidden message, similar to the medalion Canis had given him in Kushiel's Scion. Upon research, Imriel learns that the message says that Diokles does not have the answers Imriel wants but someone in the Carthaginian entourage does. All Imriel had to do is push for their delegation to enter the City of Elua and the answer will present itself to him.

There has been a Carthaginian delegation awaiting approval for entry into the City of Elua for a weeks now, with no decision having been made yet. The new general of Carthage, Astegal of Sarcal, wishes to make alliances and become better friends with his neighbors and he claims he is enamored with Terre d'Ange.

Upon this news from the Unseen Guild, Imriel and Sidonie go to speak to the Queen about. Ysandre does not seem too upset about the proposal but is curious and cautious. Soon after, as planned, Ysandre convenes a session of Parliament with the intent to decide on whether or not to allow the Carthaginian delegation into the City. After hearing the long list of tribute General Astegal has to give them, Parliament, almost unanimously, votes to allow them entry. Imriel, however, feels uneasy about the prospect and worries about what the Unseen Guild has to do with all this.

About two weeks later, six Carthaginian ship sail into the City's docks. As the tribute is being unloaded, Astegal of Sarcal comes to speak to Ysandre, Drustan, Sidonie and Imriel. He says many flattering things and actually seems genuinely interested in the City of Elua. He also brings news from his horologists that a great occurrence in the skies will happen soon. He has even brought his horologists with him to show the entire city a "marvel" which can only be seen when the moon falls under the world's shadow and the planets are alligned just so.

That night, the Queen throws a fête in honor of the Carthaginians. It is at this celebration that a man named Sunjata, an apprentice to a Carthaginian jeweler, comes up to speak to Imriel. Imriel learns that Sunjata is a eunuch and it seems that they have somewhat in common, both having been abducted by Carthaginian slavers. Just before parting, Imriel discerns that Sunjata is a member of the Unseen Guild but he is separated from him before he can ask anything else.

Soon after, another man, Gillimas Hiram, approaches Imriel bearing an offering from the Council of Thirty as an apology for Imriel being abducted by Carthaginians. Imriel notices the gift contains the symbol of the Unseen Guild, the inverted lamp. Gillimas also says that, should it catch his fancy, Imriel should make a journey to the isle of Cythera, where the wood to make the gift had come from. It was thus clearly hinted by Gillimas that he is also a Guild member. However, no more than this is exchanged and Imriel unfortunately looses track of him before the end of the party as well.

The next day, Imriel hears that Astegal wants to experience the pleasures of the Night Court and wishes Imriel to accompany him. During the excursion, Imriel learns from Astegal, which he had already heard from Sidonie, that Astegal had made a bid for Sidonie's had in marriage. Imriel dismisses this as politics and it seems that Astegal does not know of Imriel's relationship with Sidonie. Upon arriving at Jasmine House, Imriel sees an opportunity to gather more information about the Unseen Guild; Gillimas has joined the group going to the Night Court, gotten very drunk, and has taken a liking to one of the adepts. Imriel askes the Dowayne to have the girl seeing to Gillimas to come and get him once he had passed out. She does and Imriel sneeks into the room. He sits on Gillimas, ready to strangle him, and threatens him to get him to talk plainly. While this is all a ruse, Gillimas falls for it and is frightened enough to tell Imriel that his mother is indeed on the Isle of Cythera, the mistess of the lord of Paphos. After all have been sated at Jasmine House, Imriel goes back to the castle and Gillimas tells no one what happened.

Imriel tells Sidonie what he did and she wonders at the safety of the attempt. The next day, however, the horologists spectacle is to take place so the incident will have be discussed later.

Imriel keeps having a sense of impending trouble about the horologists' "marvel" but without any real reason. He goes to look at the progress of the set up; large mirrors are being carefully placed all around the walls of the city. While the city will be well protected, Imriel's gut feeling still says that something is very wrong. Imriel and Sidonie quarrel for the first time about this. They go to the Queen and tell her privately of his feelings but, since he has no good reason to call it off and no proof of something wrong, they all agree that spectacle will have to go ahead. The city is well guarded and the preparations have been closely watched including by D'Angeline horologists, who have no idea what this "marvel" behind the lunar eclipse could be.

On the evening of the spectacle, everyone in the City is gathered around Elua's Oak in the central square to watch the show. Just before it begins though, Sunjata reappears and asks for a private word with Imriel. Though reluctant, Imriel is sure that it must be related to the Unseen Guild and his mother and thereby is very important. The show is nearly beginning and everyone is looking into the sky and mirrors. Alone and off to the side under the large oak, Sunjata leans in and tells Imriel somewhat before stabbing him with a long needle. Imriel falls to the ground in agony, with no one noticing, as the "marvel" begins. Sunjata tells Imriel that he is sorry and that it is hard serving two masters. He tells him that the fever will break in a month, that he is lucky his mother loves him, and that if he wished to undo what has been done, he must go to Cythera and speak to Ptolemy Solon. Writhing on the ground, confused and alone, looking at all the city staring at the sky, Imriel sees a green flash then passes out.

Month of Madness and Beyond

Imriel wakes up, feverish and not knowing who or where he is. Slowly, his sense of self returns... but he does not know anyone around him. All he knows is that he must reach Cythera. He shouts obscenities and threats at the people who mattered most to him, not knowing that they meant anything to him. The ropes they used to tie him to his bead gave him lasting scars, a fitting reminder of his struggles during insanity. And then, all at once, at the touch of the full moon's light on his skin, the madness vanishes, and Imriel comes back to himself, weak and disoriented.

The first person he speaks to is Phedre, who happens to be have fallen asleep watching over him. She calls Joscelin, and he convinces them that he is all right. However, after speaking to the for but a few moments, he begins to realize that, even though he has overcome his madness, they seem to be under an entirely different illusion. It gets to the point where Phedre and Joscelin actually think he is still insane, even though he is quite himself. He learns that Carthage is now a very close friend of Terre D'Ange, and, to his horror, that Sidonie has happily gone off to marry Astegal.

Once he has a measure of his strength back, Imriel begins to try and think of ways he can get out of the city - he has to make it to Cythera. He overhears a conversation between a guard and a chambermaid that Barquiel L'Envers and Ysandre had been in a shouting match. And then it occurred to him - everyone in the city seemed to be under the same madness as Phedre and Joscelin. But L'Envers had not been in the city that night. He saw the thread of hope and graspsed it, asking to speak to Barquiel.

After a bit of a scuffle, Barquiel agrees to see Imriel, realizing that they both were not under the same madness that gripped the City of Elua. Imriel tells his whole story - including the bits about the Unseen Guild and Cythera. Barquiel implies that he had heard of the Guild years ago, but dismissed it without evidence. He also said that Ysandre was considering sending the D'Angeline army to the Aragonian border in support of Carthage's war.

Imriel realizes that he needs to ask Barquiel for help to get out of the city. Upon talking with him, Imriel also realizes one other thing - if he gets out and makes it to Cythera, the prices for help will be a pardon from execution for Melisande. Imriel tells Barquiel that he still has to try, and one way of diverting at least some of the madness would be to send to Alba - for Alais. She would be the only one capable of sitting the throne, Imriel reasoned, and Barquiel decides that it might actually be plausible.

Barquiel agrees to assist Imriel, but also swears a vow to him - if he proves false or fails, Barquiel will make it his life's work to hunt Imriel down and kill him. Imriel agrees, and the plans are underway. It starts with a trip to the Temple of Eisheth, under the guise of a "healing journey." While he was alone, one of Barquiel's guards comes to get him, and under a heavy cloak, escapes the temple with the guard, by way of a carriage. Imriel soon arrives at the City's wharf, where a Barquiel had found a barge willing to take Imriel down the Aviline River on the way to Marsilikos, where Imriel would have to find his own way to Cythera.

One piece of information caught his attention - Jeanne de Mereliot had not been in attendance of the "miracle" of Carthage in the City of Elua. Imriel sent her a message, and a reply came back swiftly. A meeting was arranged, and Imriel went to see Jeanne. During this meeting, Imriel learns what it was that drove him mad - (from a Hellene book) To induce madness, forge a needle of silver that has never seen daylight, one hand-span's length. Bathe it in the sweat of a lunatic's brow mixed with the effluvium of a horned toad. For one year, expose it to the light of the full moon. When plunged into the vitals, it will induce madness for the duration of the moon's cycle. After talking with Jeanne, Imriel manages to secure passage on a ship bound for Cythera. As it so happens, the ship that would be carrying him and the Bastard to Cythera was none other that the Aeolia, the ship that had carried him to Tiberium and back. Without any incident, they made it to Cythera, and the next stage of Imriel's journey.

An Unknown Familiar Reflection

Imriel is escotred to a villa where he will await until he is called upon by Ptolemy Solon, or the "Wise Ape," so named for his vast brilliance and unbelievable ugliness. The next day, Imriel receives his summons, and meets with Solon. Solon knows who Imriel is, even though he had been traveling under the name 'Cadmar of Landras.' Solon tells Imriel that Melisande is indeed on Cythera, but in her own private villa, and that he wanted to talk to Imriel alone first. Solon asks Imriel whether the needle had worked or not, and also says that he is undecided on whether or not to help him. he does tell Imriel, however, that the most likely way to sway him would be to commute Melisande's sentence from execution to exile.

During his conversation with Solon, Imriel learns that Sidonie has married Astegal. According to Solon, some two weeks before Imriel arrived on Cythera. Also, Solon says that Carthage should be preparing to launch its invasion of Aragonia. Solon asks Imriel if he will willing see his mother, and Imriel agrees to do so. They have another intellectual discussion, and then Imriel is sent to bed, so that he may see his mother the next day.

Imriel, while practicing his Cassiline swordsmanship, meets Leander Maignard, a very distant kinsman, who is there to take Imriel to his mother. Once at his mother's villa, Imriel meets her for the first time in many years, and is at a loss for what to say. He tells her that her sentence will be commuted to exile, and that he will do anything she asks to obtain her help. They talk for the rest of the day - it was the only thing she asked for, even though she agreed to send word to Solon to help before asking it. Imriel, during this time, realized her could not hate his mother, and even came to care for her in some small way.

The next day, Imriel goes to meet with Solon. Solon says that he had enough information to hazard a guess at what Carthage meant to do, but he made Imriel tell the tale, over and over and over again. After many, many tellings, Solon sends Imriel away to begin working on figuring out how to unravel Carthage's spells. During this time, Imriel spends more time talking to Melisande and Leander, learning about them and things that had happened. Finally, Solon sent word that he had found the key.

Solon tells Imriel that there are several spells at work - one bound to Terre D'Ange, and one bound to Sidonie. Imriel learns that there is malevolence at the heart of the spell that binds Terre D'Ange - a bound ghafrid-gebla, or desert spirit, or elemental. The way to end the spell would be to free the ghafrid, but to do so, Imriel must find the vessel it is bound to. Also, to free Sidonie, he must retrieve his ring from Astegal, and a token Astegal had given to her, as that was the power of the spell.

Only one way to help Sidonie presented itself - Imriel must sneak into Carthage. But everyone knew who he was, so he would have to go under the guise of a glamour. The only troubling part, however, was that the glamour would have to make him believe he was someone else, so that he could maintain the image and not appear as himself to anyone else. The person chosen for Imriel to become was none other than Leander. Solon performed the rituals, submersing Imriel's consciousness into himself, making him believe he was Leander. To help with the effect, the glamour was woven into all of Leander's clothing, so that the only way anyone would see Imriel as Imriel would be if they saw him mother-naked. To reverse the effect, Solon planted a trigger in Imriel's subconscious - to become himself once again, he must kiss Sidonie full on the lips. Once everything was in place, Imriel, thinking himself Leander, set off for Carthage, to try and rescue Sidonie.

The Seemingly Endless Journey

(Note: because of the hypnosis, Imriel now thinks of himself as Leander, and shall be referred to as such until he is returned to himself) Leander arrives in Carthage, and quickly integrates himself into the scene. He rents a house, with full staff, and goes to the slave market to purchase some bearers for his palanquin. Being on a "diplomatic mission" from Cythera and Ptolemy Solon, he was adequately endorsed to afford all he needed. At the market, Leander saw something that upset him for unknown reasons - an Aragonian boy being sold. He quickly dismissed it in favor of finding his bearers. He picks an old Hellene wrestler, two Carthaginian brothers, and an Amazigh, or desert folk. Once they were all back at his house, Leander laid out his plans to them. He managed to buy their loyalty rather easily, and promised to set them free once he has accomplished his goals.

Leander has the old Hellene wrestler, Kratos, learn the streets of the city, so that he may find his way around more easily. Leander goes to see Sunjata, the one who had stabbed Imriel, under the guise of needing a new gemstone for a ring. Afterwards, Sunjata is sent to see Leander, and Leander tells Sunjata his plan. Leander soon learns that, to see the princess, he must first go through Bodeshmun, the hologist who encircled the City of Elua. Bodeshmun, after much consideration, consents to allowing Leander to see Sidonie, but threatens to mortally injure him if he upsets her in any way.

Leander goes to see Sidonie, and makes a slight fool of himself while trying to flirt with her. He is told to come to see her the next day, so that they may get to know each other better over chess. On his way home, Leander finds he cannot stop thinking about her, and wonders what is wrong with him. Indeed, the next day, he presents himself at Sidonie's home to play chess, as they had arranged. Their sessions went on for several days. During the time, Leander had been subconsciously looking her over to see what thing she wore each and every time, as that might be part of the love-spell connection to Astegal. He makes a gambit, thinking her ring might be it, and finds out it is not. The search goes on.

Over the course of their meetings, Leander comes to realize that he might be falling for Sidonie. Sidonie also comes to realize that Leander is discouraging her from talking about Terre D'Ange, and it unnerves her. Leander also has Sunjata make a replica of Imriel's gold ring that Astegal wears, to begin another phase of his plan later on. During one of the meetings, after Sidonie had discreetly questioned Leander about why he was acting strange and why she could not know anything about Terre D'Ange, she invites him to go with her to New Carthage, which she would be departing for shortly, to go see her husband. Leander agreed, as it would progress his plans. He also comes to realize he is deeply in love with Sidonie.

Before they set off for New Carthage, Leander released all his slaves. All but Kratos left to find their ways in the world. Finally, they depart. Upon arrival, Leander manages to secure lodging in the palace from Astegal, who had been convinced to do so by Sidonie. Also, Leander met one of his old acquaintances - Justina, who also worked for Melisande as a spy, like Leander himself and also Sunjata. After she makes contact with him in the palace, Leander asks her to try to switch Astegal's ring with the fake one he had made, as Justina happened to be Astegal's lover. Leander and Sidonie resume their games of chess while in New Carthage, and learn more still about each other. After one such match, Leander finds a message from Justina awaiting him, and goes to see her, finding that she could not do as he asked, and returned the fake ring to him. Kratos, however, saves the day by presenting an alternate plan with the same outcome - have one of the Aragonian servants switch the ring while Astegal was being seen to. Leander compels into his service a young girl named Esme, who seemed to be a favorite of Astegal's, for she was always the one to give him massages. It was decided between Leander and Esme that she would steal the ring for him during one such occasion.

As it turned out, that gambit paid off. Esme was able to steal Astegal's ring and replace it with the fake, and delivered it to Kratos, who took it to Leander. Many days of waiting had paid off. Unbeknownst to Leander, he had witnessed a scene in which Astegal shouted at Bodeshmun, and the cause was Sidonie - she had regained a bit of herself after the ring was taken, and had spoken to the Aragonian king who had surrendered himself. She learned some very strange things, and finally began to believe Leander. The day came when Astegal would set off to conquer the rest of Aragonia, and Sidonie endeavored to find a time when she and Leander could speak in private. They tried taking a walk, but Astegal's Amazigh guards tailed them relentlessly. On their way back to the castle after giving up, an Aragonian gardener tried to attack Sidonie, and Leander protected her faster than the guards could.

Bodeshmun calls Leander before him, and compliments him on his reflexes with the princess. He also, in a conversation with Sidonie's physician, alludes to the possibility that she might be with child. A few hours after Leander is dismissed from Bodeshmun, Girom, the physician, comes to tell Leander that the princess will not take a sleeping draught without him there. Once there, she makes him promise to stay until she falls asleep, and then guard her door once she sleeps, to which he readily agrees. Once they were alone, Sidonie asks Leander to explain himself, but instead, ends up kissing him. This triggers the return of Imriel to himself, and he tries to convince Sidonie of who he was. She, having forgotten all about Imriel, asks who he is, still thinking he is Leander. He finally gets her to listen to him, and come to some small understanding of the situation, but, not wanting to push her, leaves to guard her door, as he had promised. He tells Girom outside of her room that she slept, and he left. Imriel still appeared as Leander, because of the spell woven into the clothes.

Once back in his rooms, he finds that Sunjata already knew that he was Imriel, because his mother had written to tell him as much, and also to have Imriel's weapons and bracers returned to him. Kratos appears, and Imriel tries to explain the situation to him. Imriel tries to send Kratos away with Sunjata, who is already leaving, because Imriel is afraid that Kratos will be harmed. Kratos choses to stay, saying he doesn't care who Imriel is, and that he is an interesting fellow. Thankful, Imriel begins to set his plan into motion - rescuing Sidonie. That evening, he goes to see her as he is supposed to, and, upon learning she had drugged the guards to buy them some time, decides to prove who is to her, by way of removing all of Leander's clothing. She saw him as he was, and found she knew him, but could not remember him. So, upon his request, she shed all of her clothing in an attempt to remove the spell woven on her. Imriel realized it was not in the clothing - it was in the seal of House Sarkal tattooed into the middle of her back. After a moment's thought, she bade him to cut it out of her. He did, feeling sick, and once it was done, she had regained herself, swearing to kill Astegal herself. Then she looked at Imriel, and asked how she could have ever forgotten him. Imriel explains that she hadn't, that she had found him inside Leander, and they has simply fallen in love all over again, proving that they were meant, really and truly, to be together. She stops his explanation with a kiss, and then she asks him to erase every trace of Astegal from her flesh and soul. Imriel does so, and they make love with all that they are. Afterwards, Sidonie asks Imriel to explain how to save Terre D'Ange, which he does. During the bandaging of her wounds, Imriel voices her concerns over her being with child, although he adamantly swears he will love any child of her blood. She explained that she couldn't be, for she and Astegal had been married in a Carthaginian way, with no prayers to Eisheth to open the gates of her womb. Imriel laid his concerns in that area to rest.

Imriel put the last part of his plan into motion. He found a way to escape with Sidonie. Her part in the plan was to distract Bodeshmun. On the night they were due to leave, Imriel disguised himself as a Amazigh warrior, and snuck to Bodeshmun's quarters, dispatching an Amazigh guard on the way. He entered Bodeshmun's quarters, and finds both Bodeshmun and Sidonie asleep, from the sleeping draught she had placed in the wine. As he prepared to move Sidonie, Bodeshmun tried to kill Imriel, but Imriel was prepared, thwarted his attempt, and killed Bodeshmun instead. He took the talisman , one part of the spell binding Terre D'Ange, from Bodeshmun, and before he died, whispered "It is not wise to meddle with D'Angelines in the matters of love." Imriel then sits with Sidonie for hours, hoping she will wake, and when she does, not, is forced to roll her into the carpet and carry her out through the wine cellar. He reaches the ship that had brought him to New Carthage all the way from Cythera, and the captain, at first not believing anything, receives an order from Sidonie, and thus sets off.

Once at sea, Imriel tells Sidonie, at her request, how Bodeshmun died. Then, once in the master cabin, he inspects her wound and finds that it is starting to become infected. A problem arose, however, in the form of swift pursuit. Someone in New Carthage had caught on and sent a ship after them. Realizing they could not get away, or reach Marsilikos in time, Kratos proposed a drastic plan. They were close enough to the Aragonian city of Amílcar, which was blockaded by Astegal's navy. His idea was to set fire to the ship and sail right through the blockade. With no other option, it was carried out. They made it through in a rowboat, leaving their burning ship behind, and were taken into custody by the soldiers in Amílcar. Once everything was taken care of, the sailors and Kratos, who has suffered severe burns and a broken rib, along with Sidonie, all were seen to by a chirurgeon. Lady Nicola L'Envers came to see them. She tells them that her son, Serafin, has taken over the rulership of Aragonia in absence of the real king, and they set off to see him. At a council, Imriel and Sidonie explain their story, and Imriel, still under Solon's spell, revealed himself to dramatic effect. After the council, Sidonie receives treatment for her infect wound, but it renders her incapacitated for two whole days. Eventually, Serafin called a council of Aragonians to discuss what was to happen. As it turned out, they decided to assist Sidonie and Imriel, but in a very small and roundabout way.

Aragonia had been fighting with Euskerria, a small country that had land composed of both Aragonia and Terre D'Ange. It was decided that their help would be needed, but the only way to secure it would be to grant them sovereignty of their own country. Serafin decided to do so, but he could not send many men to help Sidonie and Imriel get past Astegal's siege army camped outside their walls. Before they were to depart, Nicola threw a fête, so as to help give the impression that the Aragonians would be drunk and disoriented to the forces of Astegal outside their walls. During this party, Imriel meets his kinsman Marmion, who expresses his desire to see things set right, and his happiness at the prospect of having Sidonie as his near-kin by marriage to Imriel. The next night, a secret misson was launched, and Imriel, Sidonie, and a single guide managed to get past Astegal's army amid some chaos caused by Aragonian soldiers. They made for Roncal, the easiest-to-reach Euskerri settlement, within several days. They had been pursued by Astegal's Amazigh, three hundred strong, and persuaded the people of Roncal to fight. They forced Imriel to fight with them as a sign of commitment, and so he did. The Amazigh were slaughtered, with minimal loss on the Euskerri side. Afterwards, Janpier Iturralde, the closest thing to an ambassador the Euskerri had, convened a meeting of all the villages in Euskerri, and came to a decision - the Euskerri would help Aragonia, and take their sovereignty, only if Imriel and Sidonie went with them.

After much debate, Imriel and Sidonie swore they would go with the Euskerri, and soon after, they departed. All the Euskerri settlements had been alerted, and they expected some six thousand to show up. At the spot that they planned to engage the Carthaginian, Imriel had three hundred Euskerri don the Amazigh's garb, which they had taken from the corpses, to try and draw Astegal's forces out. They launched their plan, and led a portion of Astegal's forces into an ambush, killing all of them. At the same time, Serafin launched his own attack, and the battle broke out. Once the fighting finally stopped, Imriel learned that Astegal had been captured alive, much to his delight, but then learned of the losses. Of the six thousand Euskerri who had come to help, only fifteen hundred remained. Still, they had held up their end of the deal, and Aragonia gave them their sovereignty. All that remained was Astegal's execution. The next day, as he was being walked to the block, Astegal broke his bonds, stole the executioner's sword, and took Sidonie hostage. Imriel, who suffered from a wound taken the day before, offered him a deal - fight him, and if Astegal won, he would get a fast horse and an hour's lead. Astegal accepted, despite Imriel's insistence that he would not win. During the fight, Astegal tried to upset Imriel by telling him of things he had done to Sidonie, and received no reaction. Letting his guard down, Astegal was stabbed in the stomach by Imriel, who told Astegal the same as he had told Bodeshmun - it is not wise to meddle with D'Angelines in the matters of love. He paused before the killing blow, however, to ask Sidonie what she wished. She placed her hand over Imriel's on the hilt of his sword, and together they drove it through Astegal's heart, killing him. Afterwards, it was time to return to Terre D'Ange. Sidonie, Imriel, and Kratos boarded a ship captained by the same man who had brought Imriel from Cythera, and were now bound for home.

Homeward Unbinding

On the way to Marsilikos, Imriel suddenly remembered that anyone who had left the shores of Terre D'Ange for another shore would regain their wits, but once back on the shores of Terre D'Ange, would lose them all over again. He spoke to Sidonie about it, and they could find no way to get around it. They finally reached Marsilikos, but were stopped by a ship, part of Admiral Rousse's navy, but pledging loyalty to Alais, who wanted to know who they were. They explained, and Imriel had an idea. He got all the components needed for the ollamh binding ritual, and placed it on Sidonie in a last ditch effort to keep her sane. They stepped onto the land of Terre D'Ange, and the bindings seemed to have worked.

They managed to be taken to Turnone, where Alais, Barquiel L'Envers, and a shadow Parliament were holed up and ruling everything outside of the City of Elua. They made it inside, and met with Alais and Barquiel. During their time in Euskerri, Sidonie and Imriel had sent a messenger to warn Barquiel of the dangers of the spell, and what bound it - a gemstone, with instructions to look for it. Upon arriving, Imriel found that, despite a thorough search, no gemstone had been found. After settling in for awhile, they went and met with the shadow Parliament, and gave them hope. Sidonie had hatched a plan - she would take Imriel and Kratos into the City with her, with her as the grieving widow, Kratos as her husband's most loyal bodyguard sworn to protect her, and Imriel as her addled cousin who seemed besotted with her and eased her soul. They left in the face of a great threat - Ysandre, seeing plots and deceit everywhere, had decided to declare war on Alais and Barquiel and sack one town every day until they knelt before her and surrendered. They set their plans into motion and left soon after, on the same barge that had carried Imriel out of the City, no less.

Finally, they reached the City, and were admitted readily once the guards realized who she was. Ysandre and Drustan awaited them, and they listened gravely to her story. Things moved quickly from that point on. Sidonie, at the funeral for Astegal, proposed to the whole City that they scour the City, searching for the stone. After five days of nothing, tempers began to flare. In a dinner one night, where all of House Courcel seemed to be gathered, Imriel offered a suggestion to Ysandre and Drustan that got him thrown out and forbidden to call on her, thus ending their contact for the time being. The next day, Ysandre declared an official end to the search for the gem. Several days later, Imriel awoke to a summons to the palace, as there was a delegation from Alais. At the hearing, Imriel realized that Sidonie had removed her bindings - she was lost to the spell. Ysandre, after hearing that Alais was not going to surrender, threw Alais' delegation into the dungeon. After leaving, Imriel went to Elua's Square, to see if he could not yet find the gem. After a fruitless search, he prayed to each of the Companions individually, hoping they would grant his city mercy. They returned to the palace, where Ysandre and Drustan were preparing to declare war. After the declaration was made, Imriel, feeling like he was filled with divine presence, strode to the front of the Hall of Audience, and spoke to Ysandre and Drustan, saying "Your majesties, you must no do this thing. The gods themselves forbid it." And then he collapsed, unconscious. When he awoke, he knew exactly where to find the gem - inside the tree in Elua's Square. He fought with Joscelin briefly, who had just easily defeated Kratos, and won, knocking him unconscious, and left for Elua's Square with Kratos, following the Queen and her entourage.

He reached the Square, and, before everyone, scaled the tree, searching for the gem. Just as he was about to give up hope, he found it, in a mud-covered hollow, and removed it, attempting to break the spell by saying the word of power. He tried several times, but nothing happened. Finally, in desperation, he was forced to take Sidonie hostage. He spoke to her of his love for her, and told her to look into her heart for the truth, to forget her memories. She read the word of power while holding the stone, and the spell released. Imriel threw the stone away, and it exploded, showering many people with shards of emerald. Imriel protected Sidonie, shielding her with his body, and received many shards of emerald in his back for it. The demon burst from the stone and shot away from the city, towards its home which it was now free to return to.

In the aftermath of the spell's release, everyone looked to Sidonie and Imriel for answers. Ysandre, ashamed and horrified with herself, tried to abdicate the throne and place Sidonie in charge, but Sidonie refused, saying she had fallen under the spell's influence, same and everyone else. She did, however, agree to serve as regent for the duration of one month, to bring Terre D'Ange back to order. During her time as regent, things returned to a semblance of normalcy. Imriel, as Sidonie's known lover, was seen as co-regent, and with his battle-knowledge, a military figure as well, and the castle guard and the Royal Army consulted him on matters of defense, and his word was seen as interchangeable with Sidonie's. The shadow of doubt about "Melisande Shahrizai's son" had passed, and the people of Terre D'Ange trusted and respected Imriel. A delegation was sent to bring back Alais and Barquiel, and reunite the realm and House Courcel. A week later, they arrived, with Hyacinthe in tow. At a ceremony in Elua's Square, Ysandre presented the Medal of Valor to both Alais and Barquiel, who had held the country together in its time of need.

Horizons, Horizons

Months passed, and things in Terre D'Ange righted themselves nicely. Alais, always displeased with the way things had been run in Alba, ended her engagement to Talorcan, and asked to become an ollamh, so that she might have as much power as the Cruarch. Ysandre resumed the throne from Sidonie, and Imriel and Sidonie's betrothal was announced throughout the realm. The wedding date was set for one year later, the next summer, so as to give the land some time to heal, and also allow the occasion to be as joyous as possible. Word came from Aragonia that the Carthaginians had surrendered. Drustan returned to Alba, and before he left, there was a small gathering for family, where Imriel finally fulfulled promise to Alais - he brought her her new dog. The seasons changed, and Terre D'Ange healed.

The White Wedding

As is tradition, Imriel and Sidonie were separated before their wedding. Two days before the wedding, Imriel finally saw Sidonie, and found out something else she had done - she had a marqué placed on her, a sunburst, with the scar of her old tattoo in its center. She told Imriel it was his mark, as she belonged to him, wholly and completely. That night, Imriel and Sidonie made love like they had on her seventeenth birthday - he bound her with silk rope.

One day before the wedding, Imriel learned that Sidonie had been taken to the Temple of Eisheth, that she might ask the goddess to open the gates of her womb, so that she could bear children. And then came the day of the wedding. Imriel was fussed over for a long time by Favrielle no Eglantine's apprentices, and he finally shooed them away when Phedre and Joscelin arrived to escort him. He went, and found Sidonie on the altar, glorious in her white dress. The priest spoke the vows, as did they, and they sealed it with a kiss. Once the ceremony was over, Imriel spoke to many of his friends - Lucius of Lucca, Eamonn and Brigita, Maslin de Lombelon, Urist of Clunderry. Even Leander Maignard appeared, hoping to see Sidonie and report back to Melisande. Sidonie was amused to meet him, and, seemingly to stir up trouble, kissed him passionately enough to unnerve him. The night ended when Imriel, full of more happiness that he had ever been, picked his new wife up in his arms, and set off towards the castle, carrying her in his arms, whispering his love her, trailed by many, many friends and loved ones.

References

Kushiel's Mercy, by Jacqueline Carey

69.223.52.248 (talk) 08:51, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

June 2008