The Cornerstone (13 page)

‘No? You’re sure? You had better be before you give them the power to use words. You’d be putting them on a level playing field, and that could come back to bite you.’

‘You’re a cold man, Elijah.’

The warrior shrugged his shoulders. ‘You don’t employ me for my cuddly personality, Halia.’

She laughed despite herself and returned her attention to the floor, where Jacob had managed to restore a moderate level of calm to proceedings.

‘This is a subject that raises many concerns,’ he said.

‘Of that there is no doubt,’ Lucas Morodai agreed.

‘We have vastly opposing views on whether our people should be allowed the chance to share in the gifts of reading and writing, enjoyed by the Houses for so long.’

‘
We
, Jacob?’ said Bethan Falion. ‘Your house sits on the fence, I think.’

‘Carvallen has always tried to keep an objective view, Bethan. We are a careful and patient people.’

‘You’d have to be with that backward reality of yours, Jacob,’ said Osgood Draveli, never one to pass up an opportunity to snipe.

Morodai chuckled and even the mouths of Bethan Falion and Aaron Wellhome went up at the edges in disguised smiles.

It was well known that Earth had no-one with the ability to word shape, despite its incredible population size and wealth of knowledge. This served as constant amusement to the other Houses, who thought of the people of Earth as dim-witted monkeys - with Carvallen acting as the zookeeper.

The other Chapter Houses had no such problems with the dimensions they’d broken through to centuries earlier. Those with the talent to read words and craft magic existed in every one - and were plucked from their lives to be trained as Wordsmiths in the service of the House.

Morodai’s world had been a stone-age civilisation, as had Wellhome’s. Both Houses now ran their respective worlds entirely - having infiltrated every level of society thousands of years ago. Morodai regarded their planet as a resource to be used as they saw fit, ruling it with a rod of iron. Wellhome were kinder leaders, but their authority was just as absolute.

The dimension discovered by Chapter House Falion seven centuries ago had been more advanced, so the relationship they shared was more one of mutual respect and equality. A partnership, rather than a dictatorship.

Draveli’s was a dirty, dark industrial nightmare of a place, where they’d still not openly revealed their existence to the planet’s general population. They had managed to weasel their way into the planet’s governments over the past five hundred years however - stealing or bargaining for whatever took their fancy. Even Draveli felt comfortable looking down on the plight of Jacob’s House.

Carvallen suffered with an entire planet of people too stupid to grasp the skill of word shaping - but far too advanced and well developed in other ways to conquer. It was a lose-lose situation, any way you looked at it.

Jacob was well used to these jibes, so made no attempt to respond to Osgood’s insult. Instead, he addressed Falion.

‘If your idea is to allow your citizens the skills of basic reading and writing, that is one thing Bethan, but surely allowing them to word shape is going too far?’

‘Nonsense! They have as much right to the power as we do!’

This was met with a chorus of disapproval.

Bethan raised her voice to be heard. ‘They are the same as us and deserve the same rights we have! Word shaping is a gift from the Writer and should be freely available to all!’

Lucas Morodai leapt to his feet, closely followed by Osgood Draveli.

‘You’re delusional, woman!’ Morodai said. 

‘Yes! Delusional!’ Draveli parroted.

Falion banged her fist on the table. ‘How dare you speak to me like that!’

‘I’ll speak to you however I please, if you continue to talk such rubbish. This kind of woolly-minded, liberal thinking is dangerous and should be silenced!’

‘Is that a threat, Chapter Lord?’ Bethan said, her eyes narrowing.

Morodai smiled with absolutely no humour. ‘Only if you want it to be, woman.’

‘Call me
woman
again, Morodai and you’ll be singing like one in a heartbeat.’

The Chapter Guards from both houses put hands to sword scabbards and bow gun holsters, knowing where this was going.

‘Enough!’ Jacob ordered. The Chapter Guards of Carvallen, who outnumbered their counterparts twenty to one in the hall and had been placed in strategic positions by their master, now stepped forward and drew their weapons simultaneously. Jacob had evidently prepared for this kind of confrontation.

Aaron Wellhome looked furious. ‘You go too far, Jacob!’ he rumbled.

‘No, Aaron. I don’t. I will not have Chapter Lords threaten each other like children under my roof. No guards other than mine will come to arms in this hall!’ he warned, glaring at Falion and Morodai.

Morodai smiled in conciliatory fashion and sat back down, his guards relaxing. ‘Fair point, Carvallen. This is your house after all,’ he said, smoothing the front of his long coat.

‘Thank you, Lucas,’ Jacob said and turned to Falion, who still stood. ‘Bethan?’

The Falion Chapter Lord bowed her head. ‘I can see that attending this farce was as big a waste of time as I thought it would be. It’s evident no progress can ever be made if a consensus must be reached between all five of us. Therefore, I will make my own decisions and take action independently.’

Jacob walked around the table and stood next to her. ‘What are you saying, Bethan? You’ll break hundreds of years of custom and law?’

‘If I must. This system is antiquated and can never function properly while these attitudes prevail.’

Falion lifted her head and looked around the table, challenging anyone to speak against her.

Lucas Morodai was more than happy to accept. ‘What you are saying Chapter Lord, is that you intend to teach your subjects the use of words, despite the strongest objections of this council?’

‘The only objections I hear are from you and your lap dog, Morodai.’

Osgood tried to argue with this, but Morodai spoke over him. ‘Regardless of who wishes to veto the notion Falion, our rules dictate that all of us must reach consensus and that no action can be taken without it. If any one of us breaks this rule, it is grossly offensive… and in the worst case can be provocation for armed conflict.’

Bethan Falion leaned forward. ‘Are you threatening war on me if I choose to treat my people better than dogs, Lucas?’

Morodai smile was vicious. ‘If I must, Falion.’

The other three Chapter Lords had watched this exchange with fascinated horror. It was no secret these two houses benefited from the largest armies and most Wordsmiths, so any conflict could be catastrophic.

Morodai’s cruel reign had bred strong, brutal soldiers and devious Wordsmiths. Falion’s were considered the most talented in Wordcraft and she too had a well trained standing army. Such well matched opponents would start a protracted war that could engulf the whole of the Chapter Lands.

Jacob Carvallen tried one last time to cool things down. ‘Bethan, Lucas, please! We must work this out as civilised people. War is no answer.’

‘Oh, be silent, Carvallen,’ Falion said. ‘I’m sick of your fence sitting and so is everyone else. This meeting was – as ever – a waste of time. Actions speak louder than words. I will return home and begin the process of educating my people.’ She gave Morodai a look that could cut glass. ‘And if anyone wishes to object to that, I invite them to mount as vigorous a protest as they can muster. I can assure them the response they receive will be
equally
vigorous.’

Morodai chose to remain silent, but flashed a dead eyed smile at her.

Falion stormed off in the direction of the main doors, her Chapter Guards trailing in her wake. Her whole entourage left the hall in quick succession, leaving the remaining Chapter Lords in stunned silence.

…well, three of them anyway.  Morodai was sat back with a sly grin on his face.

Aaron Wellhome stood and spoke. It sounded like someone gargling with gravel. ‘I think this also concludes my contribution to the meeting. I’m not sure whether Bethan’s going too far, but I know I’d rather not spend another moment in the company of men like you.’ He stabbed a meaty hand at Morodai and Draveli, before looking back at Carvallen. ‘I bid you good day, Jacob.’

He walked away from the table and exited the hall with his people.

‘Well,’ Lucas Morodai said with veiled glee as he rose from his seat, ‘it looks like our little get together is over.’

‘Yes, indeed,’ Draveli agreed.

‘You must curb these instincts for war, Lucas,’ Jacob told him. ‘Bethan can be calmed down… reasoned with. But if you challenge her, she will dig her heels in and conflict will be inevitable.’

‘So be it!’ Morodai hissed. ‘Her ideas are ridiculous and dangerous. If Falion steps back from her madness, no arms will be brought to bear. If she doesn’t, I will do everything in my power to stop her.’ He regained his composure somewhat. ‘Goodbye Jacob, I trust we’ll be in contact again soon.’

Without waiting for a reply, Morodai was gone with Draveli behind him, following like a faithful hound.

Jacob Carvallen took a deep breath and looked over to where his wife and her Arma sat, his face etched with disappointment.

He’d wanted to achieve so much from this meeting, but Bethan’s insistence on bringing up such a controversial subject had derailed any chance of progress on other matters. Instead of brokering new trade accords, the meeting had instead set the scene for war between the Houses.

Halia gave her husband a sympathetic look, rose from her seat and came down. He met her beside the conference table, taking her hands in his.

‘I’m sorry, Jacob,’ she said. ‘That shouldn’t have descended into such farce. They’re as stubborn and as foolish as one another.’

‘Maybe,’ he agreed, ‘yet I can’t help thinking this was always likely to happen. Such massive differences of opinion may never be overcome. History shows us that.’

‘But this is the modern world. If we can’t find a happy middle ground in this, then we’re no better than our predecessors.’

‘I know Halia, but I don’t know what to do. We’re a young house and haven’t the power to keep the others in line.’

Jacob was acutely aware that his forces weren’t strong. The House of Carvallen had the least Wordsmiths and Earth offered them no conduit to find more.

It was at times like this he wished his daughter’s delusions were true; that the Earth really was capable of birthing a Wordsmith with the power to eclipse all others.

Delusions they were however, and Carvallen could do nothing to stop the war that now threatened like a storm on the horizon.

Outside, Lucas Morodai swept down the corridor towards the airship port where his luxurious transport lay in wait to take him and his staff home.

He could see the party of that fool Wellhome as it disappeared round a corner and was glad he wouldn’t have to look the big, hairy idiot in the face again today.

Osgood Draveli bobbed along in Morodai’s wake, wondering whether he should open his mouth.

They reached the long gold and blue airships – Morodai’s at the front, naturally - and while the Chapter Guards made them ready, Draveli finally worked up the courage to speak.

‘Do you think Falion will take the bait, Lucas?’

‘Of course she will, you fool,’ Morodai spat. ‘That woman can’t wait to go to war over her principles and will commit to any battle we care to conjure up.’

‘And that’s when we allow our new allies out of the bag,’ Draveli said, in such an overtly conspiring manner, it made Morodai roll his eyes in disgust.

Patience, Lucas. You need this clown for the time being.

‘Would you like to say that any louder, Osgood? I don’t think everyone else in this dirty little Chapter House heard you,’ he said venomously.

Osgood cowered like a whipped dog.

‘While we’re on the subject,’ Morodai continued in a low voice, ‘what did you discover when you went to Carvallen’s rooms? Why was he called away? Was it that annoying daughter of his?’

‘Yes, Lucas. It appears she managed to draw someone over from the Carvallen world, as we suspected she might.’

‘She still believes that dim little place can muster up a Wordsmith strong enough to stop our new allies?’

‘Oh my, yes. She’s insane.’

‘True, but her insanity may cause problems. It might be time to start thinking about her removal… Does she suspect anything of our involvement? Does her father believe anything she says?’

‘Not at all. She still spouts her ridiculous notions that we’re all doomed if the Dwellers are allowed in to this world. She has no idea they’ll do the both of us no harm,’ Draveli said, with mischievous glee in his eyes. ‘Her father thinks she’s mad.’

‘Our Wordsmiths continue to hide the Dwellers successfully, then?’

‘Indeed, no one will be any the wiser until they are unleashed.’

Lucas Morodai looked across the Carvallen city, the gentle breeze ruffling his black hair.

‘Good,’ he said, feeling genuinely content for the first time since Falion had opened her fat mouth. ‘Then the other Chapter Houses will fall and I will take up my… sorry,
we
will take up our rightful places as rulers of all five Chapter Lands.’

Lucas Morodai didn’t laugh with evil pleasure and ball his hand into a fist, but you could tell a part of him really wanted to.

- 12 -

Meanwhile, back in the Library, Max Bloom has had an education in the Chapter Lands, with Garrowain spending the last few minutes explaining how the Houses function and why the populace don’t read or write.

Max has listened very carefully, and chooses to sum it all up with the following witty epithet:

‘What a load of pony’s knackers.’

Merelie gasped. ‘Max, that’s our society you’re talking about. It’s functioned well for thousands of years.’

‘It’s still stupid. I agree with that woman. Fa… Fal?’

‘Falion. Bethan Falion,’ Garrowain supplied.

‘Yeah, her. I reckon she’s right. You can’t stop people reading. Everyone’s got a right to stuff like that,’ Max said with conviction, choosing to leave out the fact he’d only ever read three books.