by Rick Shelley
"We'll give the messenger a few minutes to wend his way toward his master. Then Maria and I will get our horses and follow, rather leisurely, I think. We don't want to arrive too closely on the heels of the messenger."
"I'll gather your people, and we'll be ready to trail along after you," Josephus said. "And I'd best get started immediately."
– |There were more people visible in the Shining City than there had been on Silvas and Maria's previous visit. But the streets were wide and the plazas immense, so even with crowds about, there was never any difficulty of riding through traffic. Josephus and the rest of the newly hired mercenaries never came closer than a hundred yards. They moved in several small groups, as if to avoid presenting the image of a unified force. Silvas and Maria frequently caught glimpses of the armed men, though, deployed as if they were flankers to a main column.
It doesn't matter whether or not anyone notices that they are with us, they decided early in the ride.
Bay refrained from any comment on the wisdom of this excursion into the Citadel. He spoke very little during the ride, but that was only from a lack of things he desired to say. He remained as vigilant as Maria and Silvas, looking from side to side, keeping a half pace ahead of Camiss so that he could see easily to that side as well.
Silvas and Maria took closer notice of their surroundings during this ride to the Citadel than they had on their first. They reached out with their minds through overlapping circles, cautiously feeling for any imminent threat on any side. With heightened awareness, they could clearly see the auras of power surrounding those of divine ancestry in the crowds. They did not probe those auras closely, though, not wishing to draw undue attention to their surveillance.
"If it were not for the animosity we face, it might be pleasant to make an extended visit to this city some other time," Maria suggested after they had covered half of the distance to the gate leading into the Citadel. "There must be an infinity of things to see and do here."
"More than you imagine," Bay offered. "The decadence of this place would startle you."
It was the last comment that Bay offered until they were inside the Citadel, almost to Mikel's fantastic palace.
"Don't remain overlong with Mikel," he cautioned. "The longer we're gone, the more agitated Josephus and the others will become."
"I have no desire to prolong this interview beyond its needs," Silvas said. "Nor do I wish to end it prematurely if it might lead to a peaceful solution to our difficulties."
"There will be no peaceful solution," Bay said with as much authority as he put to purely factual observations on other occasions. "These gods have no desire for any peace that leaves the two of you alive as a reminder of their inadequacies."
"We've not yet given up all hope," Maria said. "You may be right, but we will not assume that until we are forced to."
"That will come soon enough," Bay said. Despite her attempt at optimism, Maria did not doubt what he said.
Mikel's messenger had obviously made it home in time to warn his master and prepare a welcome for Silvas and Maria. As soon as they rode through the main gate of Mikel's estate, servants came out of the palace to take their horses. By the time they reached the steps, Argus mac Mikel was there to greet them and lead them inside for the meeting with his father.
Mikel waited for Silvas and Maria in the same room where he had been sitting during their last meeting, the one summoned up from the Seven Towers. This time, Mikel showed no evidence of intoxication. He stood to greet his visitors, scrupulously polite in his words, though extremely reserved in tone. He offered them seats and wine, and no mention was made of the purpose of their visit to the Shining City until everyone had a chance to relax and taste the wine.
"It was foolish of you to come to the Shining City to recruit your army," Mikel said then.
"Though we have accepted recruits, that was never the purpose of our visit," Silvas said. "We came with other goals."
"Such as?"
"We came to seek a resolution of the current difficulties, to seek some basis of understanding with your family. The continued sparring over the veil that covers the valley of the Seven Towers is an annoyance we would rather end. And we came to remind you that there remains a debt of honor between us."
"I recognize no such debt," Mikel replied, his forehead furrowing in a deep frown. "You left my service when you accepted my sister's dying gift. No obligation survives that."
"It does if you have any sense of honor," Silvas said. He spoke softly, without heat, but also without apology. There was no need to make a great display of indignation. Within the confines of this room, false emotional outbursts would be recognized as a poor showing, a weakness.
"All I have to offer is advice," Mikel said, an undercurrent of anger rising in his voice. "Make your peace with Barreth and Gioia any way you can. Make whatever offers you bring to them and hope they feel charitable."
"Charitable?" Maria asked, loading the word with scorn. She knew why Silvas had taken the route he had chosen, but she selected a different option, letting her indignation show clearly. "Barreth and Gioia? They don't know the word. Their only goal is our destruction, whatever the cost to themselves, and to their siblings. They will seek our destruction even if that means the sacrifice of the lot of you."
"You two are outsiders. There is nothing I can do," Mikel protested weakly, not looking at either Silvas or Maria.
"Nothing you will do," Silvas charged. "Let's be open among us, if nothing else. After all the pain I bore in your service, don't hide behind devices of air."
"Have it as you will. There is nothing I will do."
Maria stood, a beat ahead of Silvas.
"I can't bring myself to feel even pity for you," she told Mikel. "This isn't merely a case of right or wrong. You refuse to act when acting might save much death and destruction. So be it. You make your choice. But even if Silvas and I should finally fall, you will not escape. You'll lose more siblings before this ends. We won't be cowed by opposition, or disheartened by your cowardice."
Mikel looked shocked at the vitriolic outburst. Maria looked so young, so vulnerable, but she had dared to level such charges against him in his own home. He looked away from her, down at the goblet of wine in his hands.
"If there remains any chance to avoid further bloodshed, it rests with you," Silvas said, his continued soft tones a distinct contrast to Maria's heat. "If you were to declare for us, stand at our side, the danger would ebb. Barreth and Gioia would not dare to continue against us, not so soon after our last victory. For all the centuries I served you, I would not wish to see you suffer any additional pain. But Maria is right. We will not fall without a battle, and we are less helpless than I was alone before. I was your weapon at Mecq. You know the power I wore then, and to what effect. Maria and I are our own weapons now, more powerful than before. Our sting will be painful."
Mikel continued to stare at his wine. Silvas waited for a moment, looking down at the unhappy god who had been his master for so long. Then Silvas and Maria turned and left the room. Mikel did not call for them to stop. He said nothing.
– |"The interview did not go well," Bay observed after they had left the grounds of Mikel's estate.
"No, it did not go well," Silvas confirmed.
"Mikel will not oppose his siblings no matter what they do," Maria said. "He won't attempt to make a peace. I doubt that he would even fight to retain his position as Unseen Lord of the Church now."
"The recent deaths have so thoroughly disheartened him?" Bay asked, amazement in his voice.
"So it seems," Silvas said. "It is incredible, I agree. There must be much going on in this Citadel that we are unaware of to affect him so."
"Is there perhaps regret, or even feelings of guilt, over the deaths of his sister and brothers in his current state?" Bay asked.
"A god driven to despair as Judas was driven to despair after betraying his Lord?" Maria suggested.
"A novel perspective," Bay admitted.
There was no further open speech among them until they were on the drawbridge from the Citadel to the outer city.
"I would remind you of something," Bay said then. "Before the final battle over Mecq, Mikel provided for you and the others. You know what I have in mind?"
" 'I have armed and armored you as best I can,' " Silvas quoted. "I recall. You're right. It's time to take such measures."
"The soldiers you have engaged," Bay said. "Most have somewhat in the way of weapons and armor, but few of their horses are protected. In any case, thirty men armed and armored as you all were at Mecq should provide a minor spectacle, even in the Shining City."
"Very minor, no doubt," Silvas said with a smile. "But I see your point. A moment." He reached out with his mind.
Josephus, it is Silvas. Prepare the men for what is to come. I am about to give you all a livery appropriate for our situation.
Aye, lord, I'll warn them, Josephus replied. You are returning? Ah, yes, I see you now on the bridge. We're off to your right, near the orange market.
Silvas glanced that way and immediately spotted Josephus and the five small groups of armed and mounted men. I see you. I'll give you a moment to prepare them.
Josephus did not bother to move from group to group, or even shout instructions. Silvas did not eavesdrop, but still he sensed that the demigod merely called out to the men mind-to-mind, to be prepared for a demonstration of power, and for the arrival of the livery of their service.
"Now, I think," Maria said softly. She tightened her grip on Camiss's reins in case the mare might take the sudden arrival of armor, extra weight, amiss.
Silvas took the active lead. He pictured what he wanted, arms and armor, and a device to go on every shield. The images were finely detailed, and when they were ready, a single word of power was all that was required. Instantly, Silvas, Maria, and all of their new recruits were clad in shining plate armor, and armed with gleaming swords and heavy maces. Their horses were armored as well, and ornately caparisoned. The device on the shields and on the horses' livery showed a rainbow over a stylized representation of the Seven Towers. Between rainbow and towers, seven of the special birds of the Seven Towers were shown, in detail so fine that the greatest artist of the time would despair at ever duplicating the work.
Back in the valley of the Seven Towers, the Glade's soldiery was similarly accoutered, each of the races according to its individual needs. Even Felix found himself suddenly wearing a suit of armor again, with only the briefest warning from Silvas of what was to come.
"It will mark us clearly," Maria said after she had a moment to examine the reality that came from the vision.
"Quite clearly," Silvas agreed.
By the time they came off of the long drawbridge, Josephus had drawn up their men along the side of the moat, in two ranks parallel to the bridge.
"There seems little point to continuing the pretense that we are not with you, lord," Josephus said when Silvas and Maria stopped in front of the formation.
"No point at all." Silvas surveyed the ranks of soldiers-each equipped better than the grandest knight of the day in the mortal world-and smiled. "Yes, we will be an open parade now, but Maria and I will still ride a little ahead."
"Aye, lord, but we'll be close enough to leave no doubt," Josephus said.
"Yes." Silvas's smile grew. He was unable to hold back the expression, and equally unable to explain it. Their danger had increased manyfold when the armor and weapons appeared, but Silvas felt almost an exaltation at the display, even at the danger.
A fey whim, no doubt, he told Maria.
She smiled at him. If we are to perish, we shall do so with great style. Does that make us no different from the old gods?
We are different, Silvas assured her as he lost the edge of his smile. Hate does not drive us.
They started their horses again, moving toward the Inn of the Eye at a gentle pace. Josephus and the others followed, in four columns, keeping within seven or eight lengths of their master and mistress. People now openly stared at the procession. Bay led the way, taking a circuitous route, allowing more people a chance to gape at the spectacle.
"You're enjoying this," Silvas charged at one point.
"I am capable of enjoyment," Bay allowed. "We might as well make a display until we become one."
"How many people live in the Shining City?" Maria asked.
"More than a million mortals alone," Bay replied. "It is more difficult to number those such as Josephus who have a major measure of divinity. Perhaps a million and a quarter all told. There is no city in the mortal world to compare with this."
"Yet," Silvas said. A memory came to him. He had been shown a vision of a distant future once, a future with cities higher and vaster than this one, filled with people in unbelievable density. "This is the time and place in which you were born," Silvas's unseen guide had told him.
"Yet," Bay agreed. "And that future remains no more than a potential. The warring of the gods may prevent it ever coming."
With the longer day that held in the land of the gods, the sun was just past its zenith. Silvas and Maria showed no impatience at the duration of their ride back to the inn. For the moment, they looked at their surroundings, occasionally marveling at some work of art or ornately decorated building, as if they were indeed nothing more than peaceful travelers come to see the sights. Even in the mortal precincts of the Shining City there were places that outmatched anything Silvas had seen in the mundane world that he was wandered as a traveling wizard-potent.
At long last, they turned a corner to take them once more in the direction of their inn. At the end of one short block, an immense plaza stood across their route. By the time they reached the edge of that plaza, Silvas and Maria were aware that their enemies were waiting there.
Barreth and Gioia were in the center of the plaza, on horses as large as Bay and Camiss. Barreth and Gioia and their mounts were armed and armored, but the old gods had forsaken the use of helmets. Their heads were free, an open challenge. There was an empty circle around them, perhaps fifty yards in radius, and an empty lane leading from that circle to Silvas and Maria at the edge of the plaza. Apart from that, the square seemed crowded with spectators. Everyone was standing and watching, as if they knew precisely what was to come.
Josephus, hold the others at the perimeter of the circle unless I call for you, Silvas quickly projected.
Aye, lord, as you wish.
"Why not meet them openly with all of our people?" Maria asked softly.
If it's possible, I'd still avoid combat, Silvas replied.
I don't think that's possible any longer.
Bay hesitated, waiting for instructions.
"Slowly, Bay," Silvas said. "Stop about eight paces from them."
The horse did not answer, but he did start walking out into the square. Camiss showed her nervousness, but followed Bay without resistance. Silvas and Maria took care to avoid projecting their thoughts to their enemies. They erected a shield in front of them, an artifact of mind and spirit. A defensive scan showed no evidence that either Barreth or Gioia were trying to invade their minds, but they would certainly be aware of any overt use of power.
Bay stopped precisely at the distance Silvas had indicated. Silvas leaned forward on the pommel of Bay's saddle.
"Gioia. Barreth." Silvas spoke the names evenly, with no hint of emotion. "I expected that we would meet again soon."
"It may prove too soon for you," Gioia said, offering no pretense of diplomacy.
"Insolent bastards," Barreth said, spitting at the ground.
"As charming as ever," Maria said in sweet tones.
"You two are spoiling Mikel's great triumph," Silvas said. "Your actions leave him in such a state that one might think he had lost the recent battle. He takes no pleasure in his victory. He sits in his palace, consumed by a ponderous gloom. The day will come when he will remember that with great anger."
"It is you who defile his victory," Gioi
a said.
"If one takes up with gutter scum, then one must face the consequences," Barreth added.
"Doesn't it worry you to leave such an impression on the people who have gathered for your show?" Silvas made a broad gesture to indicate the crowd that stood around to watch. "They're like to see that their gods are no better than the basest of them."
"Why should we care what this rabble thinks?" Barreth said. "In any case, they will see and hear nothing until I choose to permit it. For the moment, they observe no more than do the stones under our feet."
Silvas acted without conscious planning, grabbing a word of power from his wizard's lore and imbuing it with all the godly power that Carillia's gift had provided. As that spell laid hold of Barreth and Gioia, Silvas added a second spell.
All four of the gods were held frozen in a moment of eternity, taken out of sight together while the events of the last several minutes were replayed for all of the spectators. The fact that Silvas had laid his initial spell on himself and Maria, as well as on Barreth and Gioia, had averted any attempt to defend against it. The surprise of the old gods was too complete. They had not been aware of the attack in time to stop it. When the replay ended, the crowd remained attentive. Barreth would be unable to shut them away from the byplay again.
"Until you choose to permit it?" Silvas asked, wearing the mockery openly.
After that, there was nothing but for the fighting to begin. Barreth and Gioia spurred their horses forward as they drew swords. Silvas and Maria also drew swords as Bay and Camiss moved forward to meet the attack.
Maria had absolutely no firsthand experience of battle, or training in the use of weapons. All she knew of combat from her own life was what little she had seen from the parapets of her father's castle during the battle at Mecq, or from watching the few men-at-arms of her father's establishment in training. But the knowledge was within her now. It mattered not that she had been only a young girl of modest strength before receiving Carillia's gift. She wielded her sword as easily as if it were a sewing needle. Instincts born in another's mind directed her actions, training that had prepared a thousand heroes was hers to command.