HFTH - Episode 214 - Kindred Suns
Content warnings for this episode include: Threats to eyes
Kindred Suns
sound of Tolshotol kicking open the chamber door
NIKIGNIK
I am in the middle of—
TOLSHOTOL
Nikignik!
NIKIGNIK
Ah. Hello, Tolshotol. To what do I owe the—
Tolshotol moves quickly across his chamber, manifesting a spear of pure sunlight and directing it at Nikignik’s throat.
NIKIGNIK
That is a very bright spear that you carry. I would prefer it not so close to my eye.
TOLSHOTOL
You are nothing but eyes.
NIKIGNIK
Not so close to me, then.
TOLSHOTOL
I have seen you!
NIKIGNIK
We both see each other, I think.
TOLSHOTOL
I have seen you outside of the armory.
NIKIGNIK
The armory? I am sorry, I do not follow.
TOLSHOTOL
Do not play coy with me. The armory is where our master keeps all of his most dangerous weapons, sealed safely away. They are not to be tampered with.
NIKIGNIK
Just to be clear, are you pointing a spear at me because you saw me beside a door, or because you think I have tampered with a weapon?
TOLSHOTOL
You plan to betray our master. This much is obvious. It has been obvious to me since you stepped foot in the Council of Heavens.
NIKIGNIK
Tolshotol, this is a very large complex with very many doors, none of which are labelled. I could not point out the armory to you if you asked me.
TOLSHOTOL
You were there, in front of the armory, muttering to yourself. Looking back and forth, like a criminal.
NIKIGNIK
I am frequently like that. Lost in thought. I assure you, I am not conspiring against the most powerful entity in the universe. On the contrary, my assignment directly from him is to root out a traitor in our midst. Please put the spear down.
TOLSHOTOL
How ironic, given that the traitor is you.
NIKIGNIK
My investigation has been fruitful. I am getting closer to identifying the cause of the... well, upset, in the bowels of his industry. Devils deciding to go on vacation. Someone has thrown a wrench into it, and I am afraid I have to look to you as my next suspect.
TOLSHOTOL (levelling her spear closer)
You are wasting your last words on a joke like this?
NIKIGNIK
It is no joke, I am afraid. You have a long history of clashing with Syrensyr.
TOLSHOTOL
I am his bodyguard, not his enemy.
NIKIGNIK
In here, yes, in the Council of Heavens. But what of worlds like Earth? You send wolves to devour his shepherds. You infuse them with the power of your own sun.
TOLSHOTOL
That? That is a game we play, Nikignik. We set up our pieces and we move them. We fight battles of wit and tactics. No harm is done. We talk about our sport afterwards. It keeps us entertained. Many of us have our pawns in that game, except for you. I suppose you have not been invited to play.
NIKIGNIK
A game...
I see.
Well, nonetheless, Syrensyr’s pawns are corrupting him from the inside out, and even games must be scrutinized. If someone was to find a way to tamper with his devils, who else might it have been? Then there is that you are here, with a weapon pointed at me.
TOLSHOTOL
I am rooting out a traitor, not becoming one.
NIKIGNIK
You seem extremely defensive, for seemingly no provocation. Is there something IN the armory, Tolshotol? Wherever it is? Something you are sensitive about falling into the wrong hands? Or hands other than yours, perhaps? Something that has gone missing?
TOLSHOTOL
You will not talk this way to me. My loyalty to Syrensyr has never been questioned.
NIKIGNIK
Until now. He has asked me to question everyone’s loyalty, and determine who has dealt him this grievous wound. Perhaps it is time, in your mind, for the bodyguard to become the new guardian of the universe. Perhaps it is time your sun shone from past his infernal clouds. And if only you had the knife to do it...
TOLSHOTOL
Your words are stupid, Nikignik. You do not know him like I do. Maybe someone on the council dealt him the wound. Maybe no one did. He goes through spells like this, upset about something, and he blows everything out of proportion. He strikes like a solar flare, and then he is done, and subsides again, and everything goes back to normal. You have not been around long enough to see it. But the last time he... well.
NIKIGNIK
The last time, Marolmar died.
TOLSHOTOL
You said it. Not me.
Is something wrong with you? You seem injured.
NIKIGNIK
Oh, I have just lost an eye. It happens all the time. Nothing to worry about. Besides, you seem ready to extinguish more of them. That spear is blinding.
TOLSHOTOL
I will lower my spear if you explain what you were doing outside of the armory. Your skulking around. I know you have been to see Skry. Has she filled your head with whispers?
NIKIGNIK
You must understand that I am conducting an investigation into the council independently of your authority. I must look carefully into the affairs of each of you. Including Skryekeskrye. Syrensyr would be suspicious, I think, if I were prohibited in my task. But, if it sets you at ease—I was examining the armory door for signs of tampering. Each member of the Council leaves behind small traces of their energy, their essence, wherever they go.
TOLSHOTOL
I have never observed this.
NIKIGNIK
Well, observing is my domain. In fact, there is a surprising amount of your light upon the handle to the armory. Do you visit it frequently?
TOLSHOTOL
Yes. The weapons that are contained in it are also for my use. Some of them. We have a fight with Urnundurn to prepare for and there are fewer warriors on the Council than you might think.
NIKIGNIK
Urnundurn is not here yet.
TOLSHOTOL
He will be. And when he arrives, I will be prepared.
NIKIGNIK
I do not labor under the idea that you or I will ever trust each other, Tolshotol.
TOLSHOTOL
No. I killed your precious Marolmar, after all.
NIKIGNIK
As did I, more recently. No, we may not be friends. But we both serve the same directive. To preserve this universe and its light. To serve on the council. To shape the future. The universe we both wish to see is one that is intact and full of life and light. And as enforcers of Syrensyr’s will, we may only see eye to eye when we are carrying out his directives, but we must see nonetheless.
TOLSHOTOL
So you claim.
NIKIGNIK
I will share a secret from my investigation with you. The armory is of particular interest to me because I believe a weapon has been stolen.
TOLSHOTOL
...I have not detected anything missing.
NIKIGNIK
Look again, when next you enter. It is a very small weapon, scarcely larger than a fleck of stone in your view I am sure. But it was cast from outside of this universe by the Black Eternity.
TOLSHOTOL
I will investigate this myself. This is very grave if so. Only we on the council have access
to the armory. If something is missing, I will track it down. And behead whoever has stolen it with that same knife.
NIKIGNIK
Your assistance in this matter is welcome. Perhaps you can barge into rooms I am not welcome in.
TOLSHOTOL
Whose room do you think I should start with, eye of Syrensyr? If not this one.
NIKIGNIK
I have had to proceed delicately so as to avoid rousing suspicions. I will continue to do so—make a move without proper planning and the killer might strike in panic.
TOLSHOTOL
Either you will find the thief, or I will.
NIKIGNIK
I have still not ruled you out as a suspect. You too have access to the armory.
TOLSHOTOL
Listen, Nikignik. I was born not a warrior, but a shepherd. I woke in the orchard at the center of the universe, where stars rise like new saplings. I was to tend to their growth, help them expand to fill the entire sky with light. And I have done my duty ever since. I did not take up the spear willingly, because I loved to fight. I took it to protect my flock. My stars must live long lives, and burn brightly, and finally die away in their supernovas, cradled by my hands. I will protect them, the same way that you protect your domain.
And the darkness that is coming eats up my stars by the millions. So I cannot risk any threat to lord Syrensyr. Not now, as the Black Eternity draws near. I will fight for my stars, but his very presence deters the darkness. Keeps it at bay. I need his fire in my lantern. And I cannot risk any harm befalling him, or my stars. I would die first. I do not blame you if you cannot understand this. The others are not so devoted to their crafts.
NIKIGNIK
I do understand. There are things in this universe I, too, would destroy myself to protect. In this we are aligned, then. We must protect Syrensyr, as the crux of the universe is fashioned around him. Or, he has made it so.
TOLSHOTOL
Yes. I will let you continue your activity for now, Nikignik. But you will keep me appraised of all that you find, do you understand? And if I find that you are holding the knife, I will use it to see how many eyes you really have.
NIKIGNIK
Quite an arduous process, I assure you. I will let you know when I am certain of my suspect.When the time to intervene has come.
TOLSHOTOL
And Nikignik?
NIKIGNIK
Yes?
TOLSHOTOL
They do not know me as a shepherd. They know me as a wolf. I do not show mercy to the weak. I devour them. Do not make me regret trusting you. If harm comes to my flock because of you, you will answer to me.
NIKIGNIK
And the same to you, Tolshotol, Who Guards a Thousand Suns. The same to you.
Tolshotol departs
NIKIGNIK
Ahhh.
Well, you see dreamer, I do have a job after all.
I certainly hope she finds that knife. It could do some real damage in the wrong hands.
We return now to the Hallowoods.
The bonus story that goes with this episode is called 'Important Matters' and is available on the Hello From The Hallowoods Patreon. Consider joining for access to all the show's bonus stories, behind-the-scenes and more!
Until next time, dreamers, don’t forget to check your knife block before bed. If there are any knives left in it, it risks choking during the night. Remove them all and place them on your counter. For safety.