“We have to move slowly,” I carefully stated.
“Nobody wants a strong reaction. Garon is getting old. We are thinking to put the troops under your command.” What does ‘we’ mean? “He will remain nominally in charge, but I will transfer some of my duties to keep him busy.”
“I take over the war games with the army.”
“Daily meetings forge bonds; the fame you acquired will help. Nothing works better than admiration to obtain troops’ loyalty.” The Baragan Napoleon. My smiling face showing in the inner mirror had a black bicorne hat on top. She is right. Don’t dream too much.
“What’s the King’s opinion?” I bluntly asked.
“Moderate hope and discreet backing.”
A new reality will be formed... I have to form it. “The balance of power is shifting. What place is reserved for Scharon in this new reality?” I started the bargain.
“Scharon’s place remains the same ... for the moment.”
“For the moment,” I acquiesced and bowed before leaving the terrace. Yesss! The bone is sweet enough. I closed the door quietly.
*
“I will not participate in this coup!” The Magister was shouting and coughing, until his voice faded completely. We used his health problems to stage the coup. He was right: it was a coup. They trick, we trick. How will everything end? As on Earth? Would things revert to normal after…?
“Your contribution to the library is well known, twenty years of hard work as Magister,” the Queen answered softly. “We thank you for all these achievements, but you need a respite; being chief of the Mathematic Society is still a demanding job.” She left an honorable way out for him. You learn fast … some months ago you would have grilled me for such a proposal. Humans are the most adaptable animals, on every planet. Bad news for some planets.
We won the vote by nine to eight, and appointed Talian as the new Magister. Passing through the closed the door – I was the last one to exit – the old man’s bitter exclamation struck me: “I lost my place in the council. What will they do to me?”
Our plan for controlling the Great Council took a step forward. The hawks’ party was reduced now to three people: Garon, Sarul and Airan; we were now in firm control of the main political institution. “Champagne!” the ‘winners’ bragged in the evening at Scorylo’s house, until the alcohol vapors shut our mouths, but we were utterly wrong; we were not the only ones involved in stealthy movements.
*
“I had worse wounds in the past.” Simulations or real? Batranu jumped from his bed after all the people left the room. “They must think they succeeded … at least partially.”
“They wanted to kill you.” Who is the next one?
“I know, payback for losing the library.”
“And the council. They will not stop here.”
“We need to buy more time, and we need to talk with Houston. You will talk. I cannot walk … yet.” He smiled and moved his left arm as if to test its capacity. You were lucky. The sword cut his flesh to the rib. “I was stupid enough to go there alone, to see the ‘books’. I found only swords. The stranger saved me.” Stranger? What stranger? “He stopped the sword, coming from behind, in the last moment; wonderful move, done from a jump, and he still fell on his feet. I doubt that I can do it. Then he put down five ‘unnatural’, while I cut only two.” You were already wounded. “Five others broke their conditioning and left. Ran. Then he attacked me. The wound is from him, he needed only five moves. Only five…” That doesn’t make sense. Maybe it makes. “We will meet again, Batranu, he said. And: Next time be more careful, powerful entities are playing here.” He knows your name.
“He wanted you to return wounded; we have to think why. Anogi?” Five moves only...
“Shadowmind. I suppose, I never met one until now. Black fog having human shape. I thought that the name comes from hiding their minds. The game is changing again.” Five moves … he tested you. Why? What powerful entities?
*
“How are these bastards working together?” I had tried to make my own assessment on the road to the cave and came up empty handed; I knew nothing about Factions’ organization. Why did you keep these things out of my training?
“They are still negotiating; a treaty can have thousands of pages. Your new war against the Erins is only the overture.” You did not kick me for ‘bastards’… “You came from nowhere and killed their long-term plans.”
“Glad that you observed it.”
“One minor event in a large galaxy. A third Faction officially expressed interest in the planet, in the last Galactic Council; this is what is burning them now.”
“They can help!”
“If they see profit, yes. If not… They have already contacted the Erins. A scouting Shadowmind discovered the Erins’ unusual neural pattern and provided a report, most probably the one that saved Batranu. It did not end well: the new Travelers met Armin and Altamira. No blood, just some mind fighting,” she swiftly added. “They left the planet while still unconscious, the Gate teleported them, yet they still filled the official access paper. The new thing was too hot to let it pass, and they are recruiting people by now. The Observer you know approved the request faster than they expected.” You want them here.
“How did they discover the Erins?”
“A friend of a friend of a friend whispered something to them.” You planned this. “Don’t think that we can control the Third Faction; we just raise the uncertainty level.” What if they ally with the old ones? They have to negotiate … we gain time. Your bloody uncertainty.
“We gain some time. And?”
“We need time. They used womb-tanks to produce Anogi. A Shadowmind commando destroyed the tanks. A bit late, ten thousand Anogi are already here.” Ten thousand ... we are piecemeal. “The Observer blocked any other attempt of ‘peaceful’ technology transfer. They are trying now to replace the Observer with one that belonged to Faction One in the past. Okay, enough bad news.” No more, or no more tell? Sure you want more? “Batranu and you will be the first on their recruiting list. The Shadowmind’s help proves it.”
“Should we accept? I am already hired.”
“Well, it’s up to you,” she smiled. “Your contract is non-exclusive, and Batranu is a free man.” Yeah, we are free to choose what Faction pays better for our heads. “Who are these guys? They met the old Factions a few days ago.” Two figures appeared inside my mind.
“Aizac! The Weapons Guild master, the one dressed in black. I don’t know the second one. How did you gather all this?”
“I was the one transporting your Faction’s representative.” She answered in a neutral tone, yet with some hidden irony, a small hint, her eyes glimmering for a second. “Do not ask me about Aizac, I could not read his mind without being discovered.”
“Do they still trust you?”
“Why should they not? I am a very professional Gate; I have never broken any law.” She smiled. “Okay, maybe twisted them a little, but this is part of the game.” Everyone has his own small game, except the toy. No, the ‘toy’ has a share too. How it will end?
“What will you do to save the Erins?” What will you do to save me? Ten thousand Anogi...
“I will help you, of course.”
“Why not ask for the Black Eye to stop this?” I sighed, lifting my hands in the air and letting them fall heavily – a little too theatrically, I realized.
“That time has yet to come.” A small black box materialized in the cave. “Soon, you will be tested in more ways than you could ever imagine. The second one is for Batranu.” I opened the lid and stared at the two small pebbles inside.
“Should I learn how to use a sling?” There was mild derision in my tone, and I was proud of how well I mastered my voice.
“These are communication devices. They look deliberately ordinary to pass any electronic scan; I hope that they will do their job properly.” ‘There is no such thing as full guarantees,’ I remembered. Always read contracts
’ small print. “They are made from quartz, modulated for a specific frequency. Squeeze them, and the piezoelectric chain reaction will send a message to my sensors.”
“What about this?” I raised my sleeve to show her the Travelers’ bracelet ‘gift’. “Is it safe to wear it? Can we use it for our communications?” The ‘stones’ did not inspire too much trust in me, and I feared the bracelet, but it was an already proven device.
“I analyzed it when it was transported here. It’s only a communication device, no hypnosis.” She calmed my fear of being hijacked. “But I have no control over them. Make use of the stones only when in deep danger, as they will reveal the real you and the rules of the game will change dramatically.” I thought that it was her turn to be theatrical, but I was wrong.
*
“Cotiso!” If I catch you again with girls while on duty... “Cotiso!” Where the hell are you? I need those bloody plans. The door finally opened. “Where the hell were...” A vaguely known face pushed through the door. My hand automatically went to the sword’s hilt. There was no hilt, the Military School office was supposed to be a secure place. “Who are you?” You look like Sumael. Sumael is dead.
“Good evening, from the Magister.” The messenger pushed forward an envelope. You don’t know all the people in the Library. “I am unarmed,” he either guessed my unease or he saw my hand on the knife.
“Good evening, I apologize; I was waiting for my cadet.” The envelope is open, strange. ‘Please read and advise’... ‘Sulphur water reactions’, I read the title on the papers. Ten pages, a lot. I am not a chemist and I am busy, what the hell does he want? This is Batranu’s field ... and his writing. So what? “What does the old man want?” The stranger’s eyes glanced at me oddly, as if wondering if I were nuts. Are you mute? “Sorry, I forgot, Talian is the Magister now. When do they need it?” I glanced outside; it was already dark.
“Tomorrow,” he shrugged. “They don’t need it now. There is no hurry.” Two negations, too many words for a ‘mute’... “Tomorrow,” he reiterated. “Good evening.” Tomorrow... He left the room without waiting for my answer.
“The plans,” Cotiso’s red head hurried through the door.
“Who is guarding the gate?” I ignored the papers.
“Maris.”
“Three days of arrest, an unknown guy just entered my office.”
“He looked peaceful...” He stopped and looked away. Look at me! You were with Maris. “He...” I stared at him. “I was with Maris, I am guilty too.” How can I make them respect the rules? They had no wars, for them it’s no more than a game. When the first one dies, they will learn. That’s too late. I kept my stare on him until his face changed to crimson. “It will not happen again,” he finally whispered. Good. I opened the plans and the chemistry papers fell on the floor; Cotiso jumped to gather them. You are afraid, I smiled.
“Chemistry, I like it. Can I have some lessons? To learn how to make gun powder.” Who told you about gun powder? Maug? “What does ‘help’ mean?” He pronounced the word in Romanian.
“What?”
“It is written here...” He pushed the paper to me. He is right, ‘help’.
“Batranu’s annotations, all chemists are strange. Do you still want to be one of them?”
“There is another one here: ‘attack’,” he ignored me. I took the paper from his hands. Yes, ‘attack’. Attack! On the next page was written ‘sword’, on the third one ‘rope’, then ‘east’, ‘come’ and finally ‘window’, all hidden between Baragan’s words and all in Romanian. Help, attack, swords, rope, east, come, window... They are attacking the library. Who are they? Does it matter? Batranu, Talian must be there too, maybe Aldira... “Where is Maug?”
“He left.” Who the hell can I take with me? Cotiso? He is too young. He is good enough.
“Go and get three swords.” His eyes widened in anticipation. We can tie two to each scabbard... The Samurai one is curved, I have to carry a local scabbard too. “Four swords.” The Samurai one on my back, the other... Should I take a bow too? It is too dark. A bow can be useful. “And a bow.” He was already in the door and stopped there. “Go!” Did I miss something? Yes. I ran through the door. “Take swords with flat hilts, not round ones.” We cannot tie those with round hilts.
“Was it a hidden message?” he asked when back with the swords.
“Yes, I told you that chemists are strange. Are you ready for a fight?”
“I am the best cadet,” his voice went up in pride. We will not meet cadets this night. His smile reminded me how young he was. I shrugged to clear my thoughts and he frowned. Let him frown.
Outside, in the night, a new moon scattered traces of light around us. “I feel two shadows,” Cotiso whispered. Shadows? Local minds, not Shadowminds. You are too scared.
“How far?”
“Only a faint trace, maybe a thousand feet.” A thousand? You are better than average.
“Are they following us?” I asked after a few minutes.
“Yes, they don’t know I am a mind-ranger,” he bragged. “Well almost,” he took a step back.
“You are good enough for this bloody night.” His sigh made me smile. “We have to go to the library, after...”
“I know, the hidden message,” he cut off my words. You must learn to listen. He is still young. He can die young.
“The street going to Maug’s house is close. When we arrive there, we turn right instead of going straight to the library. You run and ask Maug to come. I will wait for you there.”
“There are two...,” he whispered.
“Next time you interrupt me, I will send you back to school.”
Darkness ... the stars are cold, and the new moon... The Samurai sword was ready to hit. In my left hand, I had a knife. I am ready... Eyes closed, my enhanced ears were filtering the noise. An owl hooted far away, a mosquito, another one... I am good. Stop it! Boots walking on stones... Two people. Now focus. The steps’ cadence slowed; they are close, almost here. They slowed again. Idiot! They know you are behind the corner! I stepped back. A dark blade hit the place where my head was just a second ago, and stone splinters cut into my face. The Samurai sword arched down, a bone crushed, must be the skull ... then flesh, softer. You always know what the sword is hitting, the flesh’s consistency, the bones; their vibration goes from the blade into your body, into your mind... Steps are running. Wake up! The second one... My knife flew; the shadow stumbled, but ran further, then stumbled again. I turned his body, the dark shape of his face told me nothing. I need light. What for?
My back clung again to the wall. Cold … good. My mind was burning. One second, one second and all... Steps again. “Deceneus,” Maug’s voice broke the silence. “I am here.”
“How did you know it was me?”
“There are only two mind shadows like this in all Dava.” Yeah, I am stupid. Stupid and in danger. You can never go stealthily on this planet. Every child knows where you are. Bloody Houston, I feel like a snail without its shell. ‘We need a solution from your own mind.’ Sure, if I can feel other people minds...
“Scorylo, you can go with them.” The young novices were leaving the library. “This fight is not for quills however dangerous they can be.”
“I learned writing with Munenori,” a thinly veiled smile I had never seen before marked his face. Is this pride? Munenori... Houston really likes him. Everybody goes there. He is a good master. And I thought I was special. You won the contest. Yeah, I won. Was it worth it? Why ask now?
“He is a good calligrapher,” I acknowledged, throwing him a sword.
“Who is Munenori?” Talian asked.
“My teacher,” I stopped him asking more. “I joked once with Scorylo about quills and swords.” Keep your big mouth shut, Scorylo. “What happened?” I went back to Talian.
“Overtime, the King asked for an answer tonight. Then Scorylo...”
“I found some interesting faces in the inn across the street. You know what I mean.”<
br />
“How many?”
“More than we need.”
“How many?” I pressed Scorylo. You just bragged about Munenori's training, learn to evaluate.
“Fifteen, not really sure.”
“They are leaving,” Cotiso interrupted with a broad smile on his proud face.
“What are they? Baragans, Munti?”
“Both.”
“Nothing else?” I pushed further.
“Nothing else,” Cotiso confirmed uneasily. Good, no Anogi. Batranu nodded at me with relief.
“Are you a mind-ranger?” Talian asked. Cotiso hesitated for a second before answering: “Almost.” You learn fast... “They must know you are here now,” Talian sighed, “they must have a mind-ranger too.” Good … no fight this night.
“Who sent that guy to me?”
“He is Sumael’s brother and Comosis’s secretary...” Sumael’s brother, that’s why I had…
“Who is Comosis?”
“The old Magister.” The young ambitious librarian riding with Garon in the rain … the young Garon. Talian’s voice was soft, feeling my irritation. “We guessed something was wrong when Scorylo came with the news.” He stopped and glanced at Batranu, who nodded. “Batranu was sure they would read the note, so he used some strange symbols.” The open envelope, I remembered. This can wait.
“When did the King send his request?”
Io Deceneus: Journal of a Time Traveler (The Living Universe) Page 38