On deck he noticed two things almost instantly; the usual noise of the waterfront was missing. He had sailed into enough harbors in his life to know what to expect, and hushed voices punctuating an otherwise complete silence wasn't normal. The other peculiarity was that the only activity on deck was a boom-crew hoisting the coffin out of the hold.
Glancing around, it took a moment for Kaspar to take everything in. Kenner and Flynn had put the chest down and Kenner was pointing over the rail. Kaspar looked and saw at least two hundred armed guards had cleared the entire wharf. Where the gangplank was being run out stood what could only be called a delegation of clergy, from a temple Kaspar didn't recognize. Behind them sat what officers of the local Raj's garrison and behind them came a dray-wagon with two heavy horses pulling it. It was empty and Kaspar watched it was quickly rolled to where the coffin would be lowered. Over to the right waited an ornate carriage.
Flynn said, 'I don't think you need to worry about finding a wagon. It seems we are expected.'
The moment the gangplank struck the wharf, armed guards hurried aboard. They wore a light-blue livery with gold-and-white trim, and their helms of steel were polished to a silver gleam. As the coffin was hoisted out of the hold, the soldier in charge came to stand before Kaspar and his companions and said, 'You are the outlanders who accompany that?' He pointed to the suspended coffin.
'Yes,' said Kaspar.
'Come with us.' The soldier turned without waiting to see if he was being obeyed, and two guards grabbed the chest at Flynn's feet while two others motioned for the three men to hurry along.
Kaspar felt a slight relief that he hadn't been disarmed. Not that he had any illusion about his ability to fight two hundred of the Raj of Maharta's finest by himself, but at least it meant he wasn't quite a prisoner . . . yet. He knew there was only a slight difference between an armed guard and an escort, but sometimes that difference separated the honored and the condemned.
When he reached the bottom of the gangway, a regally dressed elderly man stepped forward. His robes were crimson trimmed with ermine and gold braid, and upon his head he wore a conical red hat adorned with runes of gold. He motioned and half a dozen other clerics moved to the wagon as the coffin was lowered. 'I am Father Elect Vagasha, of the Temple of Kalkin. Please accompany me and we'll talk.'
Kaspar replied, 'I appreciate the illusion that we have a choice in the matter.'
The old cleric smiled and said, 'Of course you don't, but it's nice to observe civility, don't you think?'
He led them to a carriage waiting by the edge of the crowd, and two footmen opened the door for him. When all were seated inside, the carriage moved off.
Kaspar looked out of the window. 'This reception seems to have wreaked havoc with daily commerce, Father. And it's unexpected.' He looked at the old prelate. 'I assume Brother Anshu sent word of our impending arrival?'
'Indeed. He communicated with his order, which in turn sought out my own. The Brothers of Geshen-Amat are a contemplative one, given to very esoteric and mystical considerations. While they are held in high regard in matters of spirituality, there are some things which are best left to other orders. As I understand it, you are outlanders?'
'Yes,' replied Flynn. 'From a land across the sea.'
'The Kingdom of the Isles,' said Father Elect Vagasha. 'We know if it. We've known of it before the coming of the Emerald Queen. As we know of Kesh and those who dwell in other parts of the world. Commerce is rare between our hemispheres, but not unheard-of.'
'Our religion is not practiced in your part of the world. You would consider us a martial order, as many of our brothers and fathers were soldiers before they came to the faith, while others have served under arms from the first moment they took holy orders.'
'Moreover, we are a brotherhood of scholars and historians. We seek knowledge as one of the many paths to enlightenment so we were the logical choice to examine this . . .'
'Relic?' supplied Kaspar.
'That's as good a word as any for now. In any event, why don't you tell me what you know about it, from the beginning, as we drive to the temple?'
Kaspar looked at Flynn, who looked at Kenner. Kenner indicated Flynn should tell the story. Flynn began, 'Over two years ago, a group of us gathered in Krondor. There were thirty merchants in all, and we formed a consortium . . .'
Kaspar sat back. He had heard every detail of the story so he let Flynn's voice fade into the background as he looked out at the passing vista of Maharta.
This city, more than any other place he had visited, reminded Kaspar of home. This far south the climate was temperate and the summer weather more clement than he had endured so far. The buildings near the wharf were of brick and mortar, not the flimsier, if cooler, constructions he had encountered farther north. The streets were cobbled and the sea breeze blew away much of the stench of overcrowding he had endured in the City of the Serpent River and the other towns he had visited on his way here.
The market they entered seemed as prosperous as any he had seen, with well-fed, industrious people all around. The urchins who chased after the carriage and the wives out shopping could have easily been plucked from the streets of Opardum and deposited here. He felt a wave of nostalgia for his homeland he had not experienced so far since his exile.
As they rolled through another broad boulevard, Flynn said, '. . . and that's when we found Kaspar.'
The Father Elect said, 'So you were not part of this company from the outset?'
'No,' said Kaspar. 'I had only come to this land a few months before I met Flynn and the others. It was mere happenstance that put me in the market the day they sought a fourth sword to help them get the . . . relic down to the City of the Serpent River.'
'So you had no prior interest in this item?'
'I merely sought to speed my way home. I did not come here by choice.'
'Oh?' The old prelate leaned forward. 'How does one travel around the world if not by choice? Certainly not as a prisoner?'
'Not in the traditional sense, Father. I was not chained in the hold of a ship, if that's what you are asking.' Kaspar leaned back and sighed. 'I was exiled by a very powerful magician I chanced to run afoul of and, in truth, he was more forgiving than not, for had our positions been reversed, I almost certainly would have killed him.'
'At least you appreciate your enemy's clemency.'
'My father used to say, "a day spent breathing is a good day".'
'How you ran foul of this magician is probably a fascinating story,' observed the old priest, 'however, let us leave it for a later conversation—should circumstances permit—and move on to what occurred once you joined the three survivors of this ill-omened expedition.'
Kaspar took up the narrative from where he had met Flynn, McGoin and Kenner, and covered the high points of the journey, with the others occasionally adding a detail here and there. When he got to the description of the creature that killed McGoin, the priest asked some specific questions, then when he was satisfied with Kaspar's answers indicated that he should continue.
'There's not much more to say,' Kaspar shrugged. 'We were in Shamsha two days later boarding a boat to the City of the Serpent River. The only thing that happened there was our encounter with Brother Anshu, and I'm sure you've had a full report on that from his temple. We spent three days in the City of the Serpent River before boarding the ship that brought us here.'
'And here you are,' said the Father Elect. The carriage slowed.
'And here we are,' he added.
Kaspar looked out and saw they had entered a huge square, surrounded on all sides by temples. The one they stopped in front of was far from the gaudiest, but it also wasn't the plainest. They got out of the carriage and the prelate said, 'We have quarters for you, gentlemen. By the Raj's orders, at our request, you will be guests here until it is decided what to do with you and your odd cargo.'
'And how long will that be?' asked Kaspar.
'Why, as long as it takes,' ans
wered the old man.
Kaspar looked at Flynn and Kenner who both shrugged.
Kaspar said nothing more as he mounted the steps into the temple.
The Temple of Kalkin was unlike any temple Kaspar had ever visited. Instead of silence, or the muted prayers of the devoted, or the singing of hymns, the main hall of the temple was filled with voices. Young men stood in groups, often with an older priest in attendance, sometimes without, sometimes listening to the older priest carefully, other times heatedly debating a point. Other brothers of the order hurried about, but nowhere did Kaspar see the silent devotion he was so familiar with in other temples.
'It gets a little loud in here sometimes. Let's retire to my apartment while your quarters are prepared,' said the Father Elect.
He led the three men into a hallway, opened a door and indicated that they should enter. Once inside, a servant approached and took the conical hat and the heavy robe from the Father Elect. Underneath, Father Vagasha wore the same simple robe of gray homespun Kaspar had seen the other priests wearing.
The apartment was simply furnished, but possessed a wealth of books, tomes, scrolls, and parchments kept in cases along the wall. Otherwise there was only a single writing table and five chairs. The priest indicated that the three men should sit. He instructed the servant to fetch refreshments, then sat down too.
Kaspar said, 'Your temple isn't like any temple I've visited, Father. It looks more like a school.'
'That's because it is, in its own way,' said Vagasha. 'We call it a university, which means—'
'The whole,' supplied Kaspar. 'Universitas Apprehendere?'
'Videre,' corrected the old priest. 'Perfect understanding is the province of the gods. We merely seek to understand everything that we are permitted to see.'
Kenner and Flynn looked as if they were feeling out of their element, and Father Vagasha said, 'Your friend speaks a very old language.'
'Ancient Quegan, and only a little. My instructors taught me the classics from several nations.'
'Instructors?' said Kenner. 'I thought you said you were a soldier and a hunter.'
'I was, among other things.'
The servant arrived with a tray of refreshments, some cakes and tea. 'I'm sorry I can't offer you anything stronger, but my order is abstemious. The tea, however, is very good.'
The servant poured four cups and departed. 'Now,' said the cleric. 'What to do with you?'
'Let us go,' supplied Flynn. 'We're convinced that if we don't do what that thing wants us to do, it'll kill us.'
'From the story of your most recently departed friend, it sounds as if it actually saved your lives.'
Kaspar nodded. 'We're merely guessing.'
The priest said, 'One thing that surprises me is your relative calm about this. If I were compelled by some dark force beyond my comprehension, I think I would be beside myself.'
Flynn and Kenner exchanged glances, and Kenner said, 'After a while . . . you just sort of get used to it. I mean, at first when things started going wrong there was a lot of discussion over what we should do. Some of the men wanted to leave that thing in the cave and take the rest of the gold but . . . we just couldn't. It just wouldn't let us.'
'So, it's not like we have a choice,' added Flynn.
'That was our reason for seeking out Brother Anshu,' said Kaspar. 'I knew there was something wrong and that I should be angry about it. I am not the sort of man who's used to being told what to do. So I guess you could say I was bothered about not being bothered.'
'Must have made it difficult when you were in the army,' said Flynn, trying to lighten the mood.
Kaspar smiled. 'At times.'
'There is a . . . geas upon you,' said the priest.
'I don't know the word,' said Flynn.
'Nor I,' admitted Kaspar.
'It's a magical compulsion. A charm that requires you to fulfill a task before you can be free of it,' answered Father Vagasha. 'It's one of the reasons these murderous things happen to your companions, yet you are relatively untroubled by them.'
Kenner squirmed in his chair as he said, 'I thought it was just . . . me being—'
'Callous?' Kaspar supplied.
'Yes,' said Kenner. 'Even when the first member of our party died, I felt . . . nothing.'
'Nor could you, or you would not fulfill this geas.' The old priest said, 'My brothers are examining this relic of yours and when they are done, we shall do what we can to aid you in freeing yourself from it.'
'It's evil then?' asked Flynn as if he was still uncertain.
'There are times when good and evil are not simple concepts,' said the priest. 'I'll be able to tell you more after we finish examining the relic. Why don't you go now and rest. You will dine with the brothers tonight; our fare is not sumptuous, but it is nourishing. Perhaps by tomorrow we'll have more to talk about.'
He rose and they followed suit. As if anticipating the Father Elect's need, the servant appeared to conduct them to their quarters. To the three men the priest said, 'We shall send for you later this evening.'
Flynn followed the servant and said, 'This may be a good thing, coming here.'
Kaspar nodded. 'Unless, of course, it gets us all killed.'
No one spoke after that.
They dined with Father Vagasha that night, but it wasn't the next day that they spoke to him again, but nearly a week later. During that time they were left to their own devices. Kenner and Flynn tended to keep to their quarters, sleeping or playing cards, or eating.
Kaspar took up wandering the great hall, sitting quietly and listening to the discourse of teachers and students. Much of what he heard was sophomoric and predictable, idealized views of life and how the world should work, but even those with unsophisticated views expressed themselves well.
The second day in the hall Kaspar paused to listen to a particularly difficult debate, in which the priest overseeing the education of these young men would pose questions and not provide answers but allow the students to debate each point and arrive at their own conclusions.
Listening to their discussion, Kaspar sensed a promise of things to come, a glimpse from time to time of, if not original thought, at least rigor. Some of these young men would mature into original thinkers, Kaspar realized, and even the dullest among them would benefit in the long term from being here.
For an instant Kaspar found himself on the verge of rage. This is worthwhile! he thought. This is where human enterprise should take mankind, to understand the world around us, not just conquer it! He paused, surprised at the intensity of his feelings, and wondering from whence they sprang. This was not the sort of experience he was comfortable with. Where had this anger come from? It was as if he had lived his life in a place of darkness and had suddenly been shown that light existed, and all the beauty and wonder of life had always been but a step away if he had just known it! Who had kept him in darkness? Kaspar had never been an introspective man, and this revelation troubled him deeply.
Kaspar stopped himself from reacting and forced his mind away from such questions, turning his attention back to the matters at hand. Impatient with himself for feeling such conflict, he turned and left the hall. He returned to his room.
It was only the Temple's rule against strong spirits that kept him sober that night.
Over the course of the remaining week, Kaspar let the young men's debates amuse him, but he steered consciously away from the type of questions that had caused him such deep turmoil.
A week later they were summoned to the Father Elect's quarters.
As they entered, the old priest waved them over to some chairs. 'Please, sit. I know you've been anxious for an outcome. We now have some sense of what must be done.'
No one spoke. They watched as three other clerics entered the room. The old prelate introduced them. 'This is Father Jaliel, Father Gashan and Father Ramal.' The three men wore identical robes to those worn by the other members of the order save for a small pin near the collar that Kas
par had noticed on the teachers in the great hall. The first man was elderly, while the other two were closer to Kaspar's age, somewhere in their forties.
Vagasha said, 'Father Jaliel is our resident expert in ancient artifacts and relics. Father Gashan is our theologian, and has the responsibility for interpreting our discoveries as they relates to our doctrines and beliefs. Father Ramal is our historian.' He motioned for the three men to step forward. 'Father Gashan, will you begin? Please explain to our friends our concept of knowledge.'
Father Gashan said, 'If I become too esoteric, please ask me to clarify.' He looked from one to another of the three men, then began. 'We view knowledge as imperfect understanding. New information is always presenting itself which challenges us to re-examine our faith and view of the universe. We categorize knowledge into three categories: perfect knowledge, certain knowledge, and flawed or incomplete knowledge.'
'Perfect knowledge is the province of the gods, and even their perception of it is limited. Only the True Godhead, he who is worshiped as Ashen-Genet by some, apprehends it perfectly. The other gods are but aspects and avatars of the godhead, and their perfect knowledge is limited to the area appointed to him or her.'
'Our master, Kalkin, is a teacher yet even he has a perfect understanding of teaching only, not of what is being taught.'
'Certain knowledge is that which we believe to be an accurate reflection of nature, life, and the universe. Such knowledge can be either correct or incorrect. When we discover a new fact of existence, we do not reject it as not being in keeping with existing doctrine, but rather re-examine the doctrine and see how it might be in error. Flawed knowledge is knowledge we know to be incomplete, to be lacking something that will progress it to certain knowledge.'
'As you can imagine, the vast majority of what we know is flawed knowledge, and even our certain knowledge is suspect.'
'So what you're saying,' said Kaspar, 'is that we can never be certain of what we know because we are not gods.'
The priest smiled. 'Essentially; that is a simplified answer, but it will serve for now.' He paused, and then added, 'Knowledge can also have another aspect, of good or evil.'
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