‘Is he hurt?’
Chi-hway smiled. ‘He’s a very strong man. A few bruises. Ka-sa-tem’s arm and pride are hurt more.’ He pulled out a chair and sat at the table, indicating for Magpie to take his seat. ‘This morning I’m travelling to the next village—Etna-sa-lin. There is a meeting of the village leaders.’
Meg served the breakfast to Chi-hway and Magpie. ‘Are you taking Magpie with you?’
Chi-hway smiled and scruffed Magpie’s dark shock of hair. ‘He is my son, now. He will go wherever I go.’
Magpie grinned, although Meg knew he didn’t fully understand what was being said. ‘Take a meal this evening to Ah-tee-wana-see,’ Chi-hway said. ‘My grandmother speaks highly of you, so you should spend time with her when I am not here to get to know her and to learn about our life in Ha-chet-shu.’
Place-by-the-river, thought Meg, hearing the village’s name for the first time. And the village where the meeting is being held is Hills-of-joy. She busied herself with preparing provisions for Chi-hway and Magpie while they ate, packing the supplies into a green leather bag that Chi-hway always carried on hunting trips. When Chi-hway was ready, he collected his bag, his bow and quiver, a staff, and ushered Magpie out of the door.
She watched the two figures disappear into the grey pre-dawn light and rain. I don’t know anything of these people or their world, she thought before she closed the door. She cooked two more serves of eggs and meat—for herself and for A Ahmud Ki. Chi-hway’s day journey gave her some respite to rekindle A Ahmud Ki’s energy, and if she was expected to eat with Ah-tee- wana-see in the evening then it meant Chi-hway was not expecting to return until the following day. She picked up the pottery bowls with the breakfasts and headed out of the house to the shelter.
As she turned the corner of the building in the light rain her heart skipped a beat. The shelter door was open and Magpie, his back to her, was staring inside. Something moved in the shadowy interior and A Ahmud Ki’s thin frame suddenly burst through the entrance to sprawl in the mud. Chi-hway appeared in the doorway, bow still slung across his shoulder, his staff in his hands. ‘No!’ Meg screamed and dropped the bowls as she ran. A Ahmud Ki scrambled to his feet, his oversized clothes muddied and wet, but as Chi-hway stepped into the rain, his staff ready for combat against the strange pale-skinned man with the braided silver hair, Meg pushed between them. ‘Stop it! Chi-hway, no!’ she cried in Shesskar and then saw A Ahmud Ki weaving his hands as if conjuring. ‘Stop!’ she screamed in his Aelendyell language. A Ahmud Ki thrust his hands out to release the spell and an instant later Chi- hway’s staff cracked across A Ahmud Ki’s face, shattering his nose and sending him backwards into the mud. Meg whirled on Chi-hway. ‘Leave him alone! He’s sick!’
‘Who is this creature?’ he demanded.
‘I found him in the forest last night,’ she replied. ‘I couldn’t leave him there.’
‘Then why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I—I wasn’t sure what you would do.’
Chi-hway’s eyes widened and he pushed her aside. She spun to see A Ahmud Ki on his knees trying to conjure another spell, but Chi-hway’s staff smashed across his left shoulder, and as A Ahmud Ki lurched sideways the staff slammed across his back. Anger and desperate fear exploding, Meg cast a pushing spell that hit Chi-hway in the back and sent him tumbling across the wet earth. He rolled to his feet, his eyes wide in surprise. ‘Leave him alone,’ Meg warned. As she finished speaking, Whisper appeared from within the shelter and ran to stand between Meg’s feet. She glanced down at the little animal.
‘What are you?’ Chi-hway asked. A Ahmud Ki was rising again. Caught between two adversaries, Meg watched as the crouching Chi-hway measured the source of greatest threat and leaned towards A Ahmud Ki, but when A Ahmud Ki ran to escape Chi-hway dropped his staff, unhitched his bow and loaded an arrow in a single fluid motion.
Meg screamed, ‘Chi-hway! No!’
‘Tell him to stop!’ Chi-hway yelled.
A Ahmud Ki scrambled over a fallen log, heading for the hillside. ‘Don’t run!’ she cried, but the fleeing figure plunged through the rain towards the forest.
Chi-hway pulled back and aimed. It was a hard shot with a moving target in the rain, but she was confident Chi-hway could bring the man down with a carefully placed arrow aimed to wound. He sighted along the shaft, adjusted the tension and arc. As he released the arrow, flames enveloped his bow and he yelped and dropped it. Shocked, he turned to the red-haired woman who had one hand raised and a finger pointing. A glance revealed that his arrow landed short of its target, flames dissolving in the rain.
Meg slowly lowered her arm, staring not at Chi-hway but at the last flames flickering on the burning bow on the wet grass. Then her eyes met his astonished gaze. A Ahmud Ki was already in the forest. Her heart raced. There was no staying—not now that Chi-hway had seen what she could do, not now that she’d helped someone escape from him. Her world had changed again. She scooped up Whisper and the rat climbed onto her shoulder, snuggling into her hair to shelter from the rain. Meg looked at Magpie and saw the boy was staring at her with the same expression as Chi-hway. ‘I’m going,’ she muttered softly. ‘Coming?’ Magpie kept staring. She hesitated. If she stayed? No. Going was her only option. Magpie would be safe. A Ahmud Ki claimed that he could help her save her children. There was no choice. She looked again at Chi-hway who seemed uncertain what to do next. ‘Look after your son,’ she told him. I should bargain for some food, she considered, but instinct told her to go at once. She looked one more time at Magpie and nodded, but when he didn’t respond she smiled grimly at Chi-hway and started to walk in the direction that A Ahmud Ki had run. Chi-hway picked up his staff and walked towards her so she raised her hand as if to point. He stopped. ‘Don’t,’ she warned. ‘And don’t follow either. You’ve seen who I am. There’s no point following me. I will only bring you sorrow.’ She wondered whether he would choose to let her go or try to redeem his hubris as she continued towards the forest. Chi-hway watched her go.
PART FIVE
‘Jarudha provides every man with opportunities to act, but it is every man’s responsibility to act according to his capacity when each opportunity arises. Failing to act in this way is failing to do Jarudha’s Will.’
FROM A CASE FOR INSTITUTIONALISING WORSHIP BY SEER ONYX
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Diamond was dead. The old man collapsed outside the temple on a morning walk and never recovered consciousness. His body was laid in state for four days before being cremated on the cliff top overlooking the Port of Joy bay on the fifth day, as was the Seers’ custom. The King and his court attended to show respect for the religious men of Western Shess, but the common people were kept away as had also always been the custom. Diamond’s ashes were interred with the ashes of his predecessors in the Vault of Disciples beneath the temple.
In the Counsel Room the full conclave of Seers gathered—ten without Diamond’s presence—and when the prayer of meeting was concluded Onyx spoke first. ‘We know why we are here. Diamond’s death leaves us without an earthly leader. The people and the new King have accepted the role of His Eminence so we must elect someone from among us to fill the void left by Diamond’s ascension.’
‘Before the new King there was no official role of leadership among us,’ Vale reminded them. ‘We shared our wisdom collectively and made decisions collaboratively, according to Jarudhaic law.’
‘We made decisions, Vale,’ said Weaver, ‘that pertained to ourselves and the worship of Jarudha, but the world has changed, as have our responsibilities. We serve not just ourselves but the people now.’
‘True,’ Vision agreed quietly. ‘The death of the Queen was the end of the old era. We showed that we were no longer silent watchers of the world but players in it. If we are to prepare for Paradise on earth, then we must act accordingly.’
‘And for that we need a leader,’ said Onyx, ‘someone to whom the common people will look for their spiritual guidance—someone they will trust and
obey when we need them to do Jarudha’s work.’
‘“There are those who would take just cause and make it suit their own needs”,’ cited Vale.
Onyx glared at him. ‘Quoting scripture is for those who lack greater understanding of what the scripture means,’ he said calmly. ‘Everyone at this table knows The Word, Vale. I could equally respond, “Blessed is he who will do Jarudha’s Will even when his brothers cannot see the way forward”. We are in the Last Days. Diamond knew that when he pressed us to open the places of worship for the common people. What was done in the past is no longer relevant. We must do what is necessary now.’
‘And who would you suggest should act as our leader?’ asked Seer Gold, looking at Onyx.
Onyx met the younger man’s gaze flatly and answered, ‘That is for us and Jarudha to decide here. I propose we hold a ballot. Each of us must vote for someone else he thinks would best fill the role of His Eminence.’
‘I propose we vote differently,’ suggested Seer Hope.
Onyx looked up at the man, who seldom spoke at meetings. ‘And?’
‘I propose we cast three votes, in order of three for our first choice, two for our second and so on, and in secret, for the men we believe will lead us well. Then we will add up the votes and the person with the highest number will be His Eminence by common agreement.’
‘Too complicated,’ Onyx complained. ‘And who would do the counting?’
‘We all would,’ said Hope.
‘No,’ said Onyx. ‘Let’s keep it simple.’
‘We should cast our votes in secret, though,’ said Weaver.
‘Agreed,’ Reason and Faith said simultaneously. Everyone nodded.
‘Then it is decided,’ declared Onyx. ‘Each of us will write the name of the man we choose on parchment and pass it to me. I will count the results.’
‘Each man will pass their vote to Acolytes Shadow and River,’ said Vale. ‘Then no man can be accused of tampering.’
The other Seers endorsed Vale’s suggestion. Onyx was silent. ‘I’ll send for them,’ said Weaver and he rose to leave the chamber.
‘When we have a new Eminence we will resolve other issues,’ said Onyx. ‘Until then each of us should retire to our cells to meditate and make our selection. No man is to speak to another until the count is made.’
‘When will the vote be closed?’ asked Gold.
‘Tomorrow by sunset,’ Truth proposed. The Seers nodded agreement.
‘Tomorrow by sunset,’ Onyx confirmed.
The King, blond hair loose to his shoulders, hands behind his back, was gazing over the battlements out to sea where a grey squall shadowed the southern bluff and coast. The early morning sea breeze riffled his hair and made the tip of his nose cold. Kerwyn ships, cream sails tinged gold by the rising sun, rocked at anchor in the harbour’s rough seas, reminding him that the war was ever-present and watchful for a break in the season. The bitter Shahk weather had driven the Kerwyn army back from the city for shelter, but the navy was implacably guarding the bay, goading the Shessian ships to dare an attack. He needed ships and shipmasters like his Warmaster who soundly defeated the Kerwyn army in their last attempt to take the city before the bad weather closed in. There were ships being secretly built to the south, in Whalers’ Bay, and the Seers promised to engineer a set of giant thundermakers to arm each ship that would make them superior to the Kerwyn navy. When the fresh winds of Tayooh blew from the south the new Shess navy would sweep in and drive the Kerwyn out of the harbour. He needed someone who would be tactically smart to lead the new navy and he had no one in mind yet.
He knew the Seers were choosing Diamond’s replacement and he expected Onyx to be successful. The most influential, vocal and senior member of the group, Onyx was also the most ambitious. What he didn’t like about Onyx was his latent aggression. The man was determined to get his way and Future feared that they would inevitably clash over some matter. He’d given the Seers significant concessions in return for helping him to acquire the Shessian throne, but he never intended for them to have political power. That was solely his province as king. The Seers were responsible for the souls of his people and only their souls.
Hearing footsteps on the stone he turned to find the Royal Intermediary, Kneel Goodman, approaching. Goodman was as his name stated—a good man to have as an Intermediary because he had the Royal palace well secured with the Elite Guards and he kept close attention on all matters pertaining to the King’s welfare. ‘Well?’ he asked.
Goodman bowed and replied, ‘The Seers have chosen.’
‘And?’
Goodman’s face was impassive as he said, ‘Seer Vision will be the new Eminence, Your Highness.’
‘Vision?’ Future blurted in disbelief. ‘How? He murdered my mother. I thought he was dead.’
‘Apparently he’s very much alive and respected by his colleagues,’ Goodman replied wryly.
The King was perplexed. He’d expected to deal with Onyx, or had there been a bizarre outcome perhaps Weaver who’d accompanied him by ship from the Kerwyn capital—but Vision? ‘They’re mocking me!’ he muttered angrily. ‘Why would they choose the man who murdered my mother? Out of twisted spite? After what ‘I’ve done for them?’
‘I might caution Your Majesty that the only evidence for Vision being the one guilty of that crime has always been rumour. There were no living witnesses and no confession of involvement from the Seers.’
Future glared at Goodman. ‘Rumours can be more truthful than historical records.’ He turned away to gaze over the ocean again.
‘Your Majesty?’ The King was silent. ‘Your Majesty, you have a visitor,’ Goodman said calmly.
Future whirled. ‘Who?’
Unfazed by the King’s fury, Goodman announced, ‘Seer Onyx, Your Highness.’
Future fidgeted. His guess was that Onyx was either very disappointed with his colleagues’ choice of the new Eminence, or he’d come to remind the King about his compact with the Seers. ‘Take him to the War Room. I’ll speak with him there.’
Goodman bowed and left the battlements. Future turned back to gaze out to sea and saw that the squall was gathering courage and charging into the bay. Trouble has a habit of coming at me, he mused, and chastised himself for the negative thought before he headed inside.
When Onyx entered the War Room, his white hair and beard sharply contrasting with his blue robe, he was scowling. He strode across the space between the King and the door and stood face to face with Future, making no effort to show deference. Definitely unhappy with the decision, Future thought. ‘Have all the Seers forgotten protocol?’ he asked.
‘Anger takes precedent, Your Highness,’ Onyx replied gruffly.
‘You might consider my anger at learning how you’ve kept the man who murdered my mother successfully hidden away.’
Onyx glared at the King. ‘I never sanctioned that,’ he vehemently denied. ‘Diamond engineered that charade.’
‘It’s a shame Diamond is dead then,’ said Future, ‘because if I’d known about this deceit I wouldn’t have made any deals with your treacherous order.’
‘Jarudha’s plans had nothing to do with your mother’s death,’ Onyx argued, ‘but for you to become king sooner or later your mother would have had to die.’
‘She would have accepted me when I defeated her.’
Onyx shook his head, irritated by the young man’s naivety. ‘Your mother was never going to give up the throne to you, Future. You knew that, even if you refuse to admit it. Why did you have to go to war against her, not once but twice? Why did she have you locked away in the Bogpit if you were the precious son you thought you were? The woman was born to rule and intended to die ruling.’
‘Speak respectfully of my mother!’ Future snapped and glared threateningly at the Jarudhan Seer. Onyx met his gaze and did not flinch. It was Future who broke away. ‘It doesn’t matter. Why Vision? Why not you?’ he asked.
‘Because he has the support of the younger Seers, espe
cially those who fought with the Rebels to bring you to the throne. He’s Truth’s son, and the older Seers respect him because Truth died heroically fighting the Abomination. Diamond personally trained him to carry on his work. And he’s gifted with the most powerful Blessing of all of us.’ Onyx’s bitterness shattered like crystals in the last words and he stared at Future with sharp, angry eyes.
‘But he doesn’t have your support,’ Future said.
‘I will serve His Eminence as Jarudha determines,’ Onyx replied stoically.
‘Then why are you here?’
‘To ask you to do the same.’
Future met Onyx’s steady gaze and this time did not look away as he said, ‘I will not work with the man who killed my mother.’
Onyx allowed a grim smile to slide across his mouth. ‘I knew that would be your answer when the count was made and Vision was declared the new Eminence. But, like me, it is not in your best interests to let past events dictate the ones to come. The will of Jarudha is above everything we personally covet. I came because I want you to know that your hatred of Vision is not yours alone. I share it. But neither of us must do anything rash or selfish to pursue our personal goals. It is written that “The man whose need is greater than Jarudha’s has no place in Paradise and will not walk the eternal path”. Vision’s appointment is for this world, but our eyes should rest on the eternal.’
‘You will follow a man you hate?’
Onyx’s grim smile hardened. ‘Men follow you, Your Highness, and not all of them love you.’
Future accepted Onyx’s bitter observation. He approached the central table where the maps of the known world were spread with Western Shess at their centre and leaned on the table’s edge. ‘Can I count on you to act as my counsel?’ he asked, without looking up at the Seer.
‘That’s why I came,’ Onyx replied.
Cleaver Broadback huddled against his horse, soaking in the animal’s warmth, cursing himself for making a dumb mistake. When he rode out of Westport in the morning to enjoy a solitary ride the sun and sea breezes were promising to keep the rain squalls to the north, but by the time he crested the bluff the winds had swung south and the squalls raced in with driving rain that forced him to shelter. The two farmhouses he encountered were long burned to the ground when the Kerwyn armies marched south and the only protection he could find was between granite boulders at the edge of the drop to the thundering ocean.
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