The Orb And The Spectre (Book 2) (13 page)

   "All on the dream of a drunkard,"
mused Leth sombrely.

  
"Or the sincere and genuine effort of an individual seeking to make sense of Mystery. We do not automatically infer malice at the outset, rather that in our desperation to explain Mystery any one of us may be drawn to unreliable conclusions. Like you, Leth, my goal is Knowledge and Truth. But Mystery confronts us at every pass and is perhaps the natural state. Some answers may never be found, others only create greater and more profound questions. For many, many people the concept of Mystery without answers is too terrifying to bear. They seek reasons for their being, as do we, and sometimes it may be far easier and more comforting to put absolute faith in answers that do not bear serious questioning, than to follow the path of Knowledge. The dream of a madman can be seductive. So can that of a genuine visionary, even though his dream may have been re-shaped by generations of other men seeing a way to power." 

   "Still," added Leth after a moment's contemplation, "that doesn’t explain the Sept's knowledge of the coming of the Child."

   "You are wrong. A dreamer dreamed a dream. Others embellished it. It became the core of a politico-religious faith. Then, as certain factors appeared to coincide with the belief, other factors were manipulated. The stage-management of your 'assassination' attempt, for example. Who knows what else the Sept has stage-managed? Even the declaration that outlanders will join with the gods to oppose us, if seen in a clear light, is a generalization open to many interpretations. It doesn’t necessarily refer to the Karai. And the Sept is so secretive; how do we know that the sacred words Grey Venger revealed to you were not written last week?"

   Pader Luminis chuckled loudly at this, and the thought brought a smile to Leth's lips too. Then Pader added, "Even if the Sept's founders were genuinely gifted crystal-gazers, that
is not proof of godly favouritism. These are momentous revelations, but they are not evidence of divine communion."

   Leth nodded to himself, thinking,
Yes, for the gods are not gods. And I am the only one who knows it.

   How he longed to confide to Pader now. Did he dare? Into his mind sprang the memory of almost his last conversation with his dear mother, Queen Fallorn. He saw the stricken look upon her face, the tears in her eyes: 'Many times I wanted to tell you, and you will wish the same in future days. But I could not, and I knew I could not, and you will do the same. Even in your darkest hours, when your very soul cries to confide in someone, you must not do it. Not until the day comes - if it comes - when you will pass the casket on to your heir.'

   The memory shook him, and on its tail came that of another voice, the warning voice of Orbelon: 'Reveal the source of your wisdom and you will be rendered powerless. Others would seek access to your source by any means. You would lose me, and it would be a loss greater than you can calculate.'

   He clamped shut his jaw. Orbelon's voice continued to sound in his mind: 'Should you be the one, the one who does eventually destroy the Orb, then for your sake and the sake of your people and all that you hold dear, be absolutely sure of one thing:
that you know what it contains!
'

   Leth grew aware that Pader Luminis was watching him. He swept back his hair, suddenly weary. "Ressa, Pader. Is it possible that she was the mother of the Legendary Child?"

   Pader Luminis bowed his near-bald head. "Oh, this is disturbing. This is distressing. The poor child, she suffered so. But until we have the lost Child, or until Queen Issul returns and informs us, we can really know nothing."

   Leth scratched himself. He wanted to speak of the King without a Soul. The True Sept appeared to have at least some distorted inkling of Orbelon's fall eons ago. But their credo seemed to have grown around the mistaken belief that it was he, Leth, King of Enchantment's Reach, whose soul was lost. But he could not pursue that issue with Pader, not without revealing Orbelon's existence.

   "Tomorrow I am interviewing Venger in the small counsel room on the first level of the custodial wing. There is a listening-chamber there. It might serve us well if you secrete yourself inside it and hear what Venger has to say."

  
"Very good."

   Leth rose slowly, yawned and stretched. "I am more tired tonight than I have felt in a long time."

   "I put a potion in your tea."

   "You did what?"

   The little Murinean grinned. "You will sleep well tonight, Leth, and be better equipped to deal with the problems the morning brings. But if I have done wrong, if I have offended you, please execute me now."

*

   Leth went briefly to his study. He opened the compartment in the wall and looked at the blue casket, the casket that was the Orb, that was Orbelon's world, that was also Orbelon. His eyelids were heavy, he was pleasantly drowsy, too tired to bring the casket forth. Tomorrow he would meet with Venger again, and then he would report the results of the two meetings to Orbelon. But for now he wanted only to sleep.

SIX

I

   Armed with the conclusions he had drawn with Pader Luminis, and refreshed and fortified by a night of deep and undisturbed sleep, Leth did feel better-equipped for another meeting with Grey Venger when he rose the following morning. The previous day he had approached his adversary feeling nervous, daunted,
even - if he would admit it - afraid. Not of Venger himself, but of what their meeting might portend. And the revelations Venger had subsequently thrown at him, plus his own sudden cognition of Ressa's terrible role, had cast him into ever greater turmoil and shock.

   But today he was clearer. Venger was not the giant he had been. Leth could view his pronouncements in a more proper perspective. To some extent Venger was even discredited, and this gave Leth some heart. Venger was not himself aware of it, and his fanatical, blind belief in
himself and the creed of the True Sept likely ensured that he never would be. But that was not necessarily an obstacle. Leth saw that he needed to draw him out, to discover whether he was genuinely in possession of information in regard to the Legendary Child which Leth could use, or whether in fact the True Sept's beliefs were founded partially or entirely on falsehoods, superstitions and amended scriptures - or, as Pader Luminis had put it, 'the dreams of a dreamer who may not have known that he dreamed'. If any of the latter were shown to be the case, then Venger's and the True Sept's role in this intricate business might be as good as over.

   Voluble in his rhetoric, Venger had yet withheld a great deal yesterday. More exactly, he had given the impression of withholding. Perhaps he had nothing more to give, but Leth had to be sure, one way or the other, before he could dismiss him. To
this end Leth felt it desirable to let Venger bask in the semi-illusion that he still had control. Like any man, Venger was at his best when he believed himself respected, perhaps even feared, and most of all needed.

   Leth went first to his children’s chamber. They were awake, Galry leaping up and down on his bed, shouting, ignoring the demands of his nanny, Mistress Flenda, for calm. Jace was playing quietly with her doll. Little Lir was curled in her cot, still sleeping, or pretending to.

   At the sight of his father Galry stopped jumping and ran to leap into his arms. "Daddy! Daddy!"

   Jace looked up and smiled - again Leth was reminded so strongly of Issul. Taking her doll she came to him with her arms
raised. Balancing Galry on one hip Leth lifted Jace onto the other.

   "When is Mummy coming home?" asked Jace.

   "Soon, my sweet."

  
"But when? I want to see her. I miss her."

   Leth gazed into her wide, limpid green eyes. "And I know she misses you, my darling.
Both of you. And I know she’s doing everything in her power to speed her journey back to us."

   He turned, intending to carry them to breakfast.

   "Uncle Leth."

   He turned back. Little Lir had stirred and was kneeling up in her cot. Her elfin face was slightly tilted, her dark tousled curls falling over her forehead, her eyes deep green and bright.
"Uncle Leth, why do you say this?"

   "Why?
Because I believe it to be true, Lir."

   "But you don't know."

   He looked at her in some surprise. She was two years old. He’d never heard her speak so before.

   "Aunt Issul might be dead."

   "Lir!"

   Galry and Jace set up a barrage of protest. "No! Don't say that! Mummy isn't dead. She's coming home, isn't she Daddy? Isn't she?"

   "Of course she is," replied Leth tensely. "Lir, what makes you say such a thing?"

   Lir became interested in the fluted rail spanning the rim of her cot. "I heard people say."

   "What people?"

  
"Servants. They think I don't listen or understand, but I do."

   "I’ll speak to the servants."

   "And they say my Mummy is mad."

   "Do they?" Leth's brow creased. "Do you know what that means?"

   "Yes. She hasn’t got her mind. And it's true, Uncle Leth, isn’t it?"

   Leth drew a long breath, disconcerted by the tiny child. She should not have been capable of understanding such concepts. As far as he had been aware Lir had command of no more than a few basic phrases and sentences. Uncomfortably he said, "No, it isn't true, Lir. Your Mummy has been taken ill, but she should be better quite soon. I'm sure she will be. Now, we are all going to breakfast. Would you like me to carry you too? I think I can just about manage three."

   Lir gave a pout then shook her head. She settled back and snuggled beneath her covers again.

II

   An hour later King Leth gave Sir Cathbo his final instructions and bade him farewell. Two companies of troops had still to ride south. Cathbo would lead the last company out of Enchantment's Reach, late in the morning.

   Sir Cathbo had been gone but a few minutes when Leth was told that Lord Fectur waited outside. He suppressed a groan. He had wanted to avoid Fectur, at least until after he had spoken with Grey Venger again. His concentration was sharp and he felt ready for Venger. It nettled him, but he acknowledged that his hope of staying clear of Fectur had really been unrealistic from the outset.

   Fectur entered as though hurled from a ballista, his voice loud and forceful. "Sire, I was expecting word from you last night, or at the very latest first thing this morning."

   "I don't know why, Fectur. I gave you no reason."

   "You agreed to apprise me of details of your meeting with Grey Venger."

   "And so I shall, when the time is right."

   "I think that is now, Sire," said Fectur, uncharacteristically displaying his agitation. "I am Master of Security, after all, and this is an issue of highest value to the Crown."

   "My business with Grey Venger isn’tyet concluded, Fectur. When it is, and I’m satisfied that I have all the relevant information to hand, I’ll summon you. Meanwhile, if you will excuse me. . . ."

   "I happen to know that you have confided in another. It would have been proper to have come to me first."

   Leth stiffened. "Pader Luminis was, in my opinion, the man most qualified to provide me with the answers I sought after last night's meeting. My judgement was not misplaced, nor was it anyone else's concern."

   Momentarily he wondered whether Fectur had approached Pader Luminis directly, whether he had with veiled threats or subterfuge drawn from him details of their conversation. But he satisfied himself that it was more likely that one of Fectur's spies had simply reported the meeting. If Fectur knew what had been said his approach now would have taken a different turn.

   "Sire, in a matter as important as this the Lord High Invigilate has every right to be fully informed. I take great exception to your decision to exclude me from the interview yesterday evening, and I consider your failure to consult me afterwards indefensible."

   "And I take exception to your interfering!" snapped Leth, his temper breaking. "You will be informed and consulted at the proper time, Fectur, and not before. Do you understand?"

   Lord Fectur took a deep breath. He thrust his jaw forward and linked hands behind his back. "I understand perfectly, Sire. I understand also that it is perhaps your actions, rather than mine, that may be endangering the state at this time."

   Leth fought back his rage. "What is that supposed to mean?"

   "Simply that your judgement at present leaves some room for question. Perhaps not surprisingly, considering the pressure you are under. But of course, your enemies will not consider that." 

   "You overstep yourself, Fectur!"

   Fectur appraised him, his lips compressed. "I merely advise proper consultation. You are acting entirely on your own, more and more. It’s not a wise course, and I’m not the only one aware of it."

   "I am acting in the manner I judge best suited to the circumstances. I am not helped by the persistent attentions of persons whose motives I am not always entirely certain of. We will speak later of this, Fectur. For now, be good enough to step aside. I have a meeting to attend."

   All the good work done by Leth's night of sound sleep had been undone. He strode from that brief, unscheduled meeting with Fectur seething with anger. He felt himself in no state to deal effectively with Venger now, and halted outside the small counselling chamber where Venger waited. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply and gathering his thoughts before entering.

*

   "The King
Without a Soul, Venger. You say his soul - my soul, as you put it - has been cast away. Do you know where, or how?"

   If Venger was aware of Leth's inner fury he gave no sign. "Your soul was cast away at birth, Leth. So it is written, for the gods judged you unfit to house such purity. Without a soul you should not have lived, yet the power of your malevolence is such that you did."

   "Then where is the Soul now?"

   "The One God sealed it in a crucible of shining adamant, and guards it in his sanctum high in his fortress in Enchantment."

   "And if it was returned to me, what then?"

   "That cannot be!"

   "Is anything written that tells of what would happen?"

   Venger's hard eyes narrowed. "It cannot be."

   "What is the name of the One god who guards it?"

   "Seek not to draw secrets that may not be drawn, Leth. The One God is the One God. That is all you may know."

   "I detect a conflict here, Venger. You say that the Legendary Child will be supreme over all, but that also the land will become the domain of the One True God once again. Is this not a contradiction?"

   Venger straightened his spine, folding his arms upon his chest. "The One God is the father of the Child."

   "They are to rule together?"

   "As one," replied Venger, "in Unity. The Child will be among us to reveal the way of the Father."

   His arms had tightened; Leth sensed his discomfort. There was something here that Venger was not sure about, or did not want to speak of.

   Concerned that he might wholly alienate Venger if he pressed the point, Leth shifted to a different tack. "Let us talk of the
Karai for a moment, Venger. They storm nations, emboldened by the patronage of a god. Is it the One True God who favours them?"
   "The Karai are outlanders, ranged with others to combat your evil, just as it was written."

   "But what is their connection? Do they, or their god, seek the Child?
If so, why?"

   Venger shifted in his seat. "They have their reasons. It is not for the Grey Venger to reveal."

   "Is that so? Or are you simply unwilling to admit that you do not know?"

   Venger thrust himself erect, his eyes ablaze. "The Grey Venger has secrets! Fantastic secrets! The One and True Sept knows all! But to the King
Without A Soul some things may never be imparted!"

   "The True Sept has attempted illicit contact with the
Karai," said Leth. "That is a crime in itself, enough to condemn you and your followers to death as spies."

   "I have told you, I have no fear of death at your hands, Leth. My death will not harm the True Sept. We are like water, ever elusive to the grasp of one such as you."

   "Very good. But I hoped and believed that our mutual aim was to work together to find a way to restore the Sept."

   Grey Venger gave a cynical laugh. "Do you think the Grey Venger is so easily gulled, Leth? You have no intention of restoring the True Sept. Why would you?"

   "My intention is to save Enchantment's Reach. I will do anything in my power to accomplish that."

   Venger shook his head with a haughty and contemptuous smile. "It is far too late for that.
Far too late. Already it has begun. It can’t be stopped now.  You are doomed, Leth, as are all who have listened to you."

*

   Leaving the chamber of counsel King Leth turned from the main corridor and passed along a passage leading eventually towards the residential wing. A blue gonfalon upon a wall twitched then billowed as he passed, and Pader Luminis stepped out from behind it. He closed the small portal at the back of the gonfalon, checked that it was concealed, and fell into step beside Leth.

   "You heard all?" asked Leth.

   Pader nodded. "It is a jumble. Vaguenesses and evasions. It’s impossible to know whether there is anything there that can be genuinely relied upon. Venger does give the impression of having more to give, but it may be an act. I don't doubt that he believes everything he is telling you. It is the belief of a lifetime, of generations. For him it must be true, for it shapes his world. As a child he would never have been permitted to question it; as an adult he is no longer capable. But there are intriguing aspects to what he says. You should speak with him again later, I think. In the meantime I’ll apply myself to the Arcane College to seek information on the One True God and the King Without A Soul."