PAWNS OF CHAOS

Brian Craig
PROLOGUE
IT WAS NOT until he saw the wall dissl!e that "ar#n realised hw stu$id he had %een t
i&agine that &en li'e hi& #uld $ssi%l( &a'e a stand against the in!aders) The &an t his le*t
was %lwn a$art %( a sht that went #lean thrugh the stnes+ and then thrugh hi&) The
%illwing gre( dust see&ed+ a%surdl(+ t %e &$$ing u$ the %ld and shredded *lesh in
&id,air)
The &an t his right died %arel( a se#nd later+ ha!ing raised his head a%!e the $ara$et t
&easure his thrw) A searing *lash * light drilled a hle thrugh his right e(e a &&ent
%e*re %its * his %rain s$ra(ed thrugh an i&$r%a%l( neat e-it,wund a%!e the na$e * his
ne#') The sna$$ing sund whi#h &ight r &ight nt ha!e %een the dis#harge * the
wea$n res$nsi%le had arri!ed a s$lit se#nd later) B( then the dead %d( had alread( %egun t
*all %a#'+ its li*eless li&%s #ru&$ling)
The *ire$t whi#h the de*ender had %een intending t hurl dwn at the ene&( tru#' went the
wrng wa(+ %ut the ar& hlding it had lst its strength s a%ru$tl( that the $ri&iti!e
%&% dr$$ed t the sand( grund with a dull thud) The stne
.ar #ra#'ed) The wi#' set *ire t the il that lea'ed ut) It l'ed
&re li'e a %r'en la&$ than a wea$n * war)
That/s all we are0 "ar#n thught+ his &ind in a $ani#'ed whirl) Nt *ighting &en , .ust $atheti#
%r'en la&$s+ &at#hing ur light against the %la1e * the nnda( sun)
The ugl( #lud that had %een %lasted ut * the *irst d(ing &an/s shattered %d( stret#hed as *ar
as a d1en *eet %ehind hi& %e*re %eginning t settle and dissi$ate) "ar#n #uld &a'e ut tw
se!ered legs+ and an unsightl( lu&$ that &ight n#e ha!e %een a head+ %ut the ar&s had %een
#ata$ulted ut * sight+ while the trs and a%d&en had %th %een ri$$ed int ridi#ulusl( tin(
shreds)
The &en *urther awa( t "ar#n/s le*t and right were *aring n %etter) Thse wh had nt %een
%lasted a$art %( %lters r hled %( lasguns were in the $r#ess * %eing #rushed and &ai&ed %(
*alling stnes) S&e * the& were s#rea&ing+ %ut nt &an() N ne was running awa() It had all
ha$$ened t *ast)
"ar#n realised+ *ar t late+ that the nl( reasn he was still standing+ still a%le t see what was
ha$$ening t either side * hi& *r a *ew &&ents lnger+ was that a se#tin * wall in *rnt *
hi&+ n &re than *ur r *i!e *eet wide+ had %een ha$ha1ardl( s$ared %( the *irst #areless swee$
* the hea!( %lter)
He 'new that the res$ite was &&entar(+ and that the se#nd swee$ wuld slash hi& dwn as
easil( as the *irst had #ut dwn his #&$anins)
He had ne!er+ e!en in his wildest night&ares+ i&agined su#h
destru#ti!e *r#e) He had %een tld that there were su#h things
as %lters and lasguns , and he had %een tld what the( #uld
d , %ut his i&aginatin had %een una%le t turn the wrds
int a##urate i&ages)
He 'new nw hw *lish he had %een t thin' * the wall
as a real de*en#e) It had see&ed a $rte#ted !antage $int+ *r&
whi#h he and his *ellws #uld rain dwn &issiles u$n the
in!aders/ !ehi#les+ %ut it was nt) There was nt a wall in
Cul1a#andra that #uld $r!ide ade2uate #!er against &assed
I&$erial *ire$wer)
This was nt a s'ir&ish3 it was a &assa#re) I* it were t %e
#ndu#ted n these ter&s+ the de*en#e * Gul1a#andra wuld
nt %e a war %ut a &ere *ll(4 an endless series * sa!age sa#ri,
*i#es **ered t the hungr( war,&a#hines * 5ala1endra)
"ar#n had 'nwn all alng+ * #urse+ that the &issiles the
de*enders $ssessed , arrws+ r#'s+ .a!elins and *ire$ts ,
were $iti*ul %( #&$arisn with the guns the ene&( $ssessed)
While the ene&( were nu&%ered in their thusands+ thugh ,
tens * thusands at the &st , and the de*enders *
Cul1a#andra in their hundreds * thusands+ he had #lung
nai!el( t the $inin that n &atter hw &an( %attles the
de*enders lst+ the in!aders #uld nt $ssi%l( win the war)
Nw he 'new di**erent)
Pie had %een tld that the in!aders had nl( a *ew %lters+
and nl( a *ew lasguns+ and that the !ast &a.rit( * their
tr$s wuld %e ar&ed with #ruder wea$ns #hurned ut %(
the *a#tries * 5ala1endra) But he 'new nw that e!en a hand,
*ul * %lters and lasguns wuld %e &re than enugh t ta'e
the in!aders int the dee$est heart * Gul1a#andra)
On#e the( had ta'en the #it( * Rintrah and the $rt *
Che&sh+ it wuld %e i&$ssi%le t %e rid * the&) E!en i*
the( e-hausted e!er( last %lt shell and e!er( last $wer $a#'
in attaining that $ri&ar( %.e#ti!e+ the( wuld %e i&$ssi%le
t disldge n#e the( had the heartland) What #uld $ssi%l(
st$ the&6 Nt &en li'e hi&+ that was #ertain) Nt e!en
&agi#+ * an( 'ind t whi#h he had e!er %een a witness)
7eter&ined t &a'e ne last e**rt %e*re he *ell+ "ar#n
hurled his wn .a!elin with all his strength , %ut e!en thugh
he 'new that he wuld die within se#nds+ he #uld nt 2uite
%ring hi&sel* t e-$se his head lng enugh t ta'e $r$er
ai&) He heard the head * the .a!elin stri'e slid &etal+ and
'new that it had %un#ed har&lessl( *r& the !ehi#le/s
ar&ur)
E!en i* he had ta'en the ris' * raising his head+ it was
unli'el( in the e-tre&e that he #uld ha!e dne %etter+ %ut as
he saw the last se#tin * the wall i&$lde+ and 'new that he
was a%ut t %e trn t $ie#es %( the %last+ he #ursed hi&sel*
*r his *ailure)
On#e he was dead+ * #urse+ it did nt &atter at all what the
last thught t #rss his &ind had %een+ r the last e&tin t
stir his heart) It wuld nt ha!e ser!ed Gul1a#andra r
Gul1a#andra/s gd an( %etter had he died with a $ra(er n his
li$s+ r with the *utile h$e in his heart that the in!aders/ inten,
tins were nt as !ilent as the Wisd& * the 7rea&ers had
$r$hesied)
It did nt &atter+ as "ar#n/s wn se!ered head %un#ed n
the grund+ haled with %ldstained dust+ whether his *ate
were his alne r *ar &re+ a s(&%l * the *ate * an entire
#ntinent) There was n ne le*t t see it *all %ut the i&$la#a,
%l( ad!an#ing gunners+ wh had seen su#h things ha$$en *ar
t *ten t read &re than the slightest signi*i#an#e int an(
single death)
Had the( had a %etter idea * what the( were+ r what the(
were su$$sed t stand *r+ the in!aders &ight ha!e thught
"ar#n/s death e!en less signi*i#ant still) Fr what #uld the
death * ne &ere &an n ne &ere wrld $ssi%l( &ean+ in
the #nte-t * a %attlegrund that e-tended a#rss *ur hun,
dred %illin stars+ and a war that &ight last a %illin (ears and
ne!er %e wn6
ONE
7ATHAN WAS sriTiNt3 under a d&%en( tree n 8etalin Hill
when he nti#ed the great $lu&es * dust wa( ut in the A&%er
Waste) As sn as he saw the& he 'new that there was s&e,
thing dd a%ut the&) He had *ten seen riders a$$ra#hing
the !illage *r& that dire#tin+ usuall( hrse&en &!ing in
s&all gru$s at a trt r the gall$+ r sedate $a#',trains *
#a&ules) Twi#e he had seen #a&ule,trains &!ing &u#h *aster+
$ursued %( %rigands+ %ut e!en the( had nt stirred u$ as &u#h
dust as whate!er was a$$ra#hing nw)
It &ust+ he tld hi&sel* uneasil(+ %e s&e 'ind * *rea' wind)
Perha$s it was the %eginning * a !ilent %ut l#alised str&+
r e!en an earth2ua'e)
7athan had nl( li!ed *i*teen (ears+ and had ne!er e-$eri,
en#ed an earth2ua'e+ %ut he had heard * the&) He had li!ed
thrugh a hundred dust,str&s withut e!er seeing ne li'e
this+ %ut he had ne!er a#tuall( seen the start * a str&+ s he
#uld nt %e #ertain that the( did nt %egin in this *ashin)
Either wa(+ the $hen&enn was new and deser!ed #lse
attentin+ s he std u$ and ste$$ed ut * the shadw * the
d&%en(/s #rwn+ shading his e(es against the &id,&&ing
sun as he $eered int the distan#e)
The A&%er Waste was aw'ward territr( *r tra!ellers) The
#r(stalline sand,$arti#les that rendered the land in#a$a%le *
grwing #r$s were *ten shar$ as well as hard+ and i* a $arti#,
ularl( nast( s$e#i&en %e#a&e tra$$ed %etween a hrse/s she
and h* it #uld $ier#e the h&( $art * the h* and $ri#'
the li!ing *lesh within) The see&ingl( s*t,*ted #a&ules+
whi#h had alwa(s li!ed in the wastelands rather than sharing
the territries ##u$ied %( the hu&an #lnists+ were %etter
e2ui$$ed %( nature t resist su#h $enetratin+ %ut e!en the(
$re*erred the higher and harder grund that was regularl( , i*
rather ine$tl( , swe$t %( the wind) Fr this reasn+ there were
trails a#rss the A&%er Waste that e!er( e-$erien#ed tra!eller
*llwed) The $lu&es * dust that 7athan was wat#hing were
*anned ut %radl( and indis#ri&inatel(+ s the( had t %e
s&e 'ind * weather *r&atin)
Or had the(6
7athan %egan t *eel a $e#uliar si#' *eeling dee$ in his st&,
a#h+ and he #uldn/t hel$ wndering whether it &ight %e a
'ind * $re&nitin) He had ne!er had a $re&nitin %e*re
, and nt *r want * tr(ing , s he didn/t 'nw what the(
shuld *eel li'e) He had *ten as'ed H(#illa+ wh had the& all
the ti&e+ %ut she had ne!er %een a%le t gi!e hi& a #lear
answer) H(#illa had s &an( $re&nitins that Pater Saltana+
the l#al $riest+ had de#lared her a sensiti!e and &ar'ed her
ut *r earl( initiatin int the 8(steries , %ut that had #&e
as n sur$rise t an(ne+ gi!en that her *a&il( was said t %e
distantl( related t that * Ga!aln+ the &st $wer*ul #!en,
&aster in all Gul1a#andra)
7athan and H(#illa had %een #lse *riends when the( were
#hildren+ %ut that was %e#ause the( had %een %& within da(s
* ne anther) Nw the( were al&st adults the( were %und
t grw a$art+ and wuld ha!e %een dire#ted twards di**erent
gals e!en i* H(#illa had ne!er shwn the least talent *r wise,
drea&ing)
The #hre dust,#luds #ntinued t rise higher and higher+
%illwing and s$iralling in su#h an un#ann( *ashin that
the( see&ed al&st ali!e) O##asinall( 7athan #aught a
gli&$se * a hal*,*r&ed sha$e suggesti!e * a leering *a#e+
%ut su#h se&%lan#es * rder *lattered nl( t de#ei!e+ dis,
sl!ing int #n*usin as sn as he tried t &a'e sense *
the&)
Lng ag+ s legend had it+ the A&%er Waste had %een a !er(
di**erent $la#e , nt a desert at all %ut a *a%ulus land s *ull *
li*e that the !er( r#' had %een ani&ate) The /a&%er/+ shards *
whi#h ga!e the waste its na&e+ was said t %e the re&nant *
s&e e-ti# li*e,*r&+ hal*,$lant and hal*,ani&al+ whi#h had
d&inated the lands#a$e %e*re the hu&an #lnists arri!ed) It
*ed n &ultitudinus #reatures t tin( t %e seen %( hu&an
e(es and $r!ided *d in its turn *r all 'inds * e-ti# wal'ers
and *l(ers+ * whi#h nl( a hand*ul that were use*ul t &an ,
in#luding #a&ules , had %een allwed t sur!i!e) Perha$s it was
true and $erha$s it wasn/t3 there was n wa( t 'nw+ e!en
thugh wise,drea&ers s&eti&es #lai&ed t ha!e returned t
that &agi#al ti&e while the( sle$t+ t see the wrld as the *irst
hu&ans had seen it , e-#e$t+ * #urse+ that a##rding t thse
sa&e wise,drea&ers+ the *irst hu&ans in the wrld were nt the
!er( *irst+ %ut nl( new arri!als *r& s&e ther wrld+ whi#h
had in turn %een seeded %( hu&ans *r& elsewhere)
A##rding t the Wisd& * the 7rea&ers+ the stars in the
Great Cluster were suns+ with wrlds * their wn) 7athan
du%ted this) Gi!en that the stars &!ed li'e #lured *ire*lies
in the night s'(+ hw #uld the( %e suns6 I* the( reall( were dis,
tant suns+ si&ilar t the great light that std a%!e hi& in the
s'(+ wh( was there s &u#h strange #lur and #n*usin in
the shades * night6 The Wisd& * the 7rea&ers undu%t,
edl( had &u#h wisd& in it+ %ut 7athan had %egun t wnder
* late whether his an#estrs had #ntri!ed t si*t ut all that
was &erel( drea&ing+ * the 'ind that an(ne &ight d)
He had+ * #urse+ 'e$t su#h thughts entirel( t hi&sel*3 it
was direl( unwise t #hallenge Wisd& that e!en #!en,&as,
ters re!ered)
As he realised at last what he was l'ing at+ the hand that
had %een shading 7athan/s e(es %egan t tre&%le)
Pre&nitin r nt+ the si#' *eeling in his st&a#h had %een
right t gi!e hi& warning)
The $lu&es * s&'e were nt the result * s&e *rea'ish
li&ited str&+ nr were the( the $rdu#e * an earth2ua'e)
The( were li'e an( ther $lu&es * dust+ raised %( the $assage
* tra!ellers , %ut these new#&ers weren/t riding hrses r
#a&ules) The( had !ehi#les)
The tra!ellers/ tales that tld * the wndrus !ehi#les *
5ala1endra had ne!er see&ed t 7athan t %elng t the sa&e
#lass as thse legends whi#h s$'e * the ti&e %e*re there
were &en n this wrld r in these distant rea#hes * the Great
Cluster) Tales * wndrus !ehi#les that #uld #rss deserts
were nl( a *ew generatins ld at &st+ and whether r nt
the &en wh had arri!ed n the wrld t *uel su#h stries were
its se#nd wa!e * in!aders r its *irst+ there was little du%t
that the( were in!aders) These &en had ne!er #rssed the
A&%er Waste in *r#e %e*re+ %ut the( were #rssing it nw+ and
ne thing u$n whi#h e!er( ru&ur that s$'e * the& agreed
was that when in!aders li'e these arri!ed+ the( wuld nt #&e
as traders+ let alne as *riends)
7athan was terri*ied+ %ut he 'new that he had t *ight his ter,
rr) He was *i*teen (ears ld+ and the ne thing that *rightened
hi& &re than an( ther was the $ssi%ilit( that he &ight
see& #hildish t thers) He was an adult nw+ and he had t
a#t and rea#t li'e an adult) 9es+ he #uld let his *ear shw , %ut
nl( i* it see&ed li'e &ature #n#ern+ %rn * a duti*ul wrr(
*r thers rather than a $aral(sing and #ri$$ling dread * what
&ight ha$$en t hi&) 9es+ he #uld run+ %ut he &ust nt si&,
$l( run awa(+ s#rea&ing and s%%ing) He &ust run t the
!illage+ wa!ing his ar&s s that n ne wuld 'nw that his
hands were tre&%ling+ and he &ust shut a warning in a !i#e
that was #lear and lud and *r#e*ul)
S he turned and ran westwards+ %a#' twards the !illage+
wa!ing his ar&s and #alling the alar& in a !i#e that was
#la&rus withut e!er 2uite *alling int h(steria) The *a#t
that he was &!ing hel$ed hi&+ #hannelling the energ( * his
*ear int a$$r$riate a#tin and awa( *r& &erel( #hildish
e-$ressin)
Althugh tra!ellers wh were $assing thrugh it s&e,
ti&es #alled the !illage Odienne+ t 7athan and e!er(ne
else wh li!ed there it was &erel( /the !illage/+ .ust as the
wrld was &erel( /the wrld/) It was where he and e!er(ne
else he 'new had alwa(s li!ed) He had e-$e#ted that he
alwa(s wuld li!e there+ as a .urne(&an * s&e srt4 a #ar,
$enter+ $erha$s+ a r*er r e!en a %a'er) His wn *ather was
lng,dead s #uld $r!ide hi& with n #ra*t t *llw+ s he
had %e#&e e!er(%d(/s hel$er and n%d(/s a$$renti#e+ %ut
the !illage l'ed a*ter its wn and a *ir&er $la#e wuld
ha!e %een *und *r hi& sn enugh) Nw+ all * a sudden+
he had t *a#e the $ssi%ilit( that the &a$ * his li*e wuld ha!e t %e trn u$+ and that the
!illage &ight %e redu#ed t
ru%%le %e*re the sun set)
He was surel( entitled t %e terri*ied) Was this nt the &st
terri*(ing $ssi%ilit( i&agina%le6
The I&$eriu&0/ he #ried+ as he ran $ell,&ell dwn the sl$e
twards the ga$ %etween the Negra& *ar& and the *rge) The
I&$eriu& is #&ing0/
7athan had little idea what /the I&$eriu&/ was+ %ut he had
%een taught *r& in*an#( that the I&$eriu& was the ulti&ate
ene&(+ and that the wrst thing in the wrld that #uld e!er
ha$$en t his !illage r t the entire land * Cul1a#andra was
that the I&$eriu& wuld #&e) He had %een taught+ t+ that
he wuld 'nw the I&$eriu& when it #a&e+ %e#ause the
I&$erial *r#es wuld #&e in !ehi#les) S large had the %ug,
%ear l&ed in his i&aginatin that he had alwa(s #n#ei!ed
* the !ehi#les in 2uestin arri!ing in thusands+ &anned %(
giants twi#e as tall as rdinar( &en+ %ut the *a#t that the( were
*ar less in nu&%er did nt &atter)
:ust s$ea'ing the &inus wrds /the I&$eriu&/ alud
see&ed t &a'e the threat *ull( real+ and the sund * the s(l,
la%les &ade tears rise int 7athan/s e(es)
The I&$eriu&0/ he hwled+ tr(ing with all his &ight t #n,
!ert all * his ra!ening *ear int *urius anger) /I&$erial
!ehi#les are #&ing a#rss the wastes0 The(/ll %e here within
the hur0/
His shuts $r!'ed an instantaneus res$nse as he ran
$ast the *rge and the %la#'s&ith/s #ttage twards the
that#hed huses n the rad t the !illage s2uare) The s&ith
&ust ha!e %een in the sta%les %ehind the *rge+ %e#ause his
%ra1ier had nt %een lit , nr had the *ires %eneath the 'ilns
whi#h the !illage wi!es used t harden their $ts) 8st * the
$e$le wh #a&e running *r& the s&aller huses were
w&en and #hildren+ %e#ause their &en*l' were at wr' in
the *ields+ %ut when 7athan #a&e #lser t the s2uare+ where
the huses were &ade * wd instead * earth+ with sealed lg
r*s+ the #ra*ts&en le*t their tls and *llwed their wi!es)
Ca%rn the #ar$enter and Rel*the %a'er ran $ast 7athan+ %!i,
usl( intent n &a'ing sure that what he had seen reall( was
an I&$erial *r#e+ %ut neither #hallenged hi& as the( went)
The( allwed hi& t #ntinue n his #urse+ shuting his
#hilling warning)
7athan 'new that i* an(ne wh heard his shuts du%ted
the truth * the&+ that du%t wuld nt %e allwed t stand in
the wa( * 2ui#' a#tin) The &ere $ssi%ilit( that it was true
wuld %e enugh t set all e!er(da( &atters aside) E!er( &an
wh had a wea$n wuld run t *et#h it+ and e!er( &an wh
had ne!er had &ne( with whi#h t %u( a &a#hete r a #ra*ts,
&an/s %w wuld g t *et#h a #lu% r a $it#h*r') There was
little enugh &ne( in the !illage , the resident #ra*ts&en had
t &a'e al&st e!er(thing that was needed %( its $e$le , %ut
the har!est had %een gd enugh in *i!e ut * the last eight
(ears t allw the %igger landhlders t sell their sur$luses !er
in 8an#i$ and El!enr+ s the !illage/s st#'s * 'een %lades
were %( n &eans restri#ted t its s$ades and 'it#hen,'ni!es)
The I&$eriu&+ it was ru&ured a&ng &en*l' whse #n,
!ersatins 7athan had ##asinall( !erheard+ had guns that
sht *rth lightning and li2uid *ire) It was als said+ hwe!er+
that the I&$erial &asters had sun' &ines in 5ala1endra and
%uilt *a#tries there t turn ut guns * &u#h si&$ler design
whi#h *ired &etal %ullets+ and &e#hani#al %ws that *ired darts
li'e shrtened arrws)
E!er( #hild in Gul1a#andra was tld that the I&$eriu&/s
wheeled &etal !ehi#les #uld &!e *aster than a gall$ing
hrse+ %ut it was als said that the I&$eriu& was training #a!,
alr( t use lan#es+ and #ns#ri$ting su#ars *r& the *ar suth t
turn the l-dnts the( used as &assi!e %easts * %urden int
li!ing engines * war) Fr& whi#h it see&ed t *llw+ s *ar as
7athan #uld dedu#e+ that the I&$eriu& #uld nt ha!e !er(
&an( guns that sht *rth lightning and li2uid *ire+ nr !er(
&an( wheeled !ehi#les+ nr the &eans * easil( &a'ing &re)
In whi#h #ase+ 7athan had t su$$se+ there was a $ssi%il,
it( that the I&$eriu& #uld %e *ught+ e!en with the #rude
'inds * wea$ns that hunters and *ar&ers 'e$t) Perha$s there
was e!en a $ssi%ilit( that the I&$eriu& &ight %e %eaten+ i*
nl( there were enugh hunters and *ar&ers in Gul1a#andra t
*r#e the in!aders t use u$ their %est resur#es and &a'e the&
*all %a#' n &a'eshi*t rein*r#e&ents)
The I&$eriu&0/ 7athan (elled again and again+ as he ran
thrugh the s2uare int the lane %etween tw ther rws * rel,
ati!el( &ean dwellings+ heading *r the huts whse inha%itants
were said t 'ee$ #leaner straw *r their ani&als than the( did
*r the&sel!es) E!en the disre$uta%le were entitled t %e
warned+ and e!en &en wh were said t %e t *nd * the ale
their wi!es %rewed t %e gd la%urers wuld *ight with all
the *er#it( the( #uld &uster t de*end their h&es)
B( this ti&e+ 7athan had delightedl( dis#!ered that his *ear
reall( was turning t anger+ and that the e-#ite&ent $u&$ing
thrugh his %ld as he ran was three $arts *ighting instin#t
and nl( ne $art i&$ulse t 'ee$ n running) Ta'e ar&s
against the I&$eriu&0/ he #ried , and thers were #r(ing the
sa&e+ nw that Ca%& and Rel* had seen what he had seen)
Alas+ 7athan/s instin#ts #uld nt 'ee$ that %ra!e %alan#e
n#e he #a&e in sight * his wn $ett( h!el and saw his
&ther hurr(ing t &eet hi&) Other $e$le #alled his &ther
Ora+ %ut t hi& she was si&$l( his &ther+ and in her $resen#e
n wrds were enugh t stir aggressin) In her $resen#e+ he
wuld alwa(s %e a #hild+ e!en i* he grew t the ri$e ld age *
*rt( and she s&ehw #lung n t li*e lng enugh t rea#h a
!enera%le *i*t(,*i!e)
/7athan0/ she shrie'ed) She had &ade n e**rt at all t hld
%a#' her tears and negtiate her terrr int wrath) She did nt
as' hi& whether it was true+ %e#ause she trusted hi&) She had
heard hi& #&ing while he was still at the *rge+ and she was
alread( thin'ing * the ne-t &!e , %ut her &ind was n *light+
nt *ight)
/I need a %lade0/ 7athan shuted+ %ut he 'new as he s$'e
that it was useless t h$e that his &ther &ight *ind ne *r
hi&)
/Run0/ she said) /Run t Pater Saltana) 9u &ust hel$ hi&
with the #hildren) He 'nws where t hide the&)/ At least she
had the sense+ r the #urtes(+ t #&&issin hi& t hel$ with
the #hildren rather than t %e ne+ %ut it was still n .% *r a
real &an)
/I &ust *ind a wea$n+/ he gas$ed+ as he #a&e $anting t a
halt) The !illage &ust %e de*ended)/
The &en will de*end what the( #an+/ she tld hi&) /But what
&ust %e de*ended a%!e all else is the #hildren) That is the
&st i&$rtant dut() G t Pater Saltana , he t has need *
&en) G0/
He had n ti&e t answer+ %e#ause 5ana' the head&an was
nw at his shulder+ de&anding t 'nw e-a#tl( what 7athan
had seen) 5ana' alread( had a %lade in his hand , $erha$s the
nl( %lade in the !illage that reall( 2uali*ied as a swrd+ althugh there were a d1en &en wh
#lai&ed t %e swrds&en and t' a !er( generus !iew * the nature * their
&a#hetes) 8an( !illagers #arried 'ni!es *ar %igger than was ne#,
essar( *r the si&$le tas' * #utting %read and &eat+ %ut
7athan/s wn eating,'ni*e was a &isera%le thing with a %lade
n %igger than his little *inger+ *it nl( *r a #hild)
/I saw si- #learl(+/ 7athan said+ althugh /#learl(/ was a slight
e-aggeratin+ /%ut there &ust ha!e %een &an( thers %s#ured
%( the dust) There was s &u#h dust there &ust ha!e %een at
least twent(+ $erha$s &re than thirt() The( were #&ing *aster
than the *astest hrse) An hur awa(+ I thught , nt &u#h
&re+ and $ssi%l( a little less) These hills slw tired hrses+
%ut the( wn/t slw these things)/
5ana' didn/t need t 'nw an( &re+ and he didn/t ha!e
ti&e t than' 7athan *r the in*r&atin) He was alread(
turning awa(+ shuting rders , %ut he did $ause lng enugh+
a*ter %ar'ing three r *ur instru#tins t his *ellw elders+ t
%ar' ne at 7athan) /Hel$ Saltana0/ he said) /Get the #hildren
int the #a!e0/
/I need a wea$n+/ 7athan said+ again)
There/s nne t s$are+/ was the head&an/s a%ru$t res$nse)
9u heard hi&+/ Ora said) /Nw g0/
What a%ut (u6/ 7athan $rtested+ his !i#e sudden s&all
again)
/I ha!e wr' t d+/ she said)
It was s&ething she had said a thusand ti&es r &re+ %ut
in the $ast she had alwa(s &eant e!er(da( wr'4 the wr' that
e!er( !illage w&an did as a &atter * rutine+ !er and !er
and !er again3 the wr' that &aintained the uni*r&it( and
#ntinuit( * li*e) Tda(+ she &eant that she had t d what she
#uld t $reser!e what she #uld+ t &a'e $r!isin *r li*e
a*ter disaster , i* there were+ indeed+ t %e li*e a*ter the disaster)
Li'e e!er(ne else+ she had t assu&e that there wuld %e ,
what ther assu&$tin #uld she $ssi%l( a#t n6 , %ut she
had t 'nw that there &ight nt)
7athan ran **+ twards Pater Saltana/s huse) The #hildren
* the !illage were alread( running %ehind and ahead * hi&)
Li'e e!er(ne else in the !illage+ 7athan 'new e-a#tl( hw
&an( there were4 twent(,se!en) It was a *igure that did nt
in#lude %a%es,in,ar&s+ althugh it did in#lude a hand*ul wh
had learned t wal' s re#entl( that the( hardl( 'new hw t
run and #uld nt $ssi%l( 'ee$ $a#e with their elders) The(
wuld ha!e t %e #arried+ s&e %( the ele!en, and twel!e,(ear,
lds+ s&e %( &en , &en li'e Pater Saltana+ and 7athan , and
s&e %( unwed w&en)
B( the ti&e 7athan drew u$ at the $riest/s huse+ H(#illa was
alread( there+ #unting and rganising) She didn/t waste ti&e
with a greeting %e*re thrusting a tw,(ear,ld %( int
7athan/s ar&s) It was Hui&e+ 5ana'/s sn4 a res$nsi%ilit(
and a hal*)
What was the $int * H(#illa/s su$$sed talent *r $re&,
nitin+ 7athan wndered+ i* it #uldn/t gi!e ade2uate warning
* a li*e,threatening e!ent li'e an I&$eriu& atta#'6 Where
was the !irtue * wise,drea&ing i* the Wisd& * the
7rea&ers #uld nt $r!ide *r the end * the wrld6 Where
was the &u#h,!aunted genersit( * Gul1a#andra/s al&ight(
gd+ i* all the sa#ri*i#es **ered t hi& in the $ast had ser!ed
&erel( t &aintain the harsh and di**i#ult li*e that all !il,
lagers led+ while their wrst ene&ies li!ed in great #ities li'e
legendar( Sstenut+ $ssessed * all &anner * &ira#ulus
&a#hines6
Su#h thughts were+ * #urse+ treasnus and terri%le+ %ut
7athan had ne!er %een a%le t %elie!e that the( were unusual)
Surel( the( were 2uestins that e!er( &an &ust as' hi&sel*)
Surel( the( were 2uestins that &an( a &an had e!en dared t
!i#e+ at ne ti&e r anther+ t his &st trusted #n*idants)
Pa$a Saltana+ wh was su$$sed t %e e!er( !illager/s &st
trusted #n*idant+ &ust ha!e heard their li'e a hundred ti&es
!er+ thugh nt *r& 7athan , wh had nl( e!er !i#ed his
&re tri!ial du%ts+ and then nl( t H(#illa+ ha!ing swrn her
t a se#re#( she had $resu&a%l( res$e#ted)
Little Hui&e %egan #r(ing as Saltana led the $art( ut *
the !illage n the westward side) He was nt alne+ and all *
the ther s%%ing #hildren were lder than he was+ %ut
Hui&e was ld enugh t 'nw that he was the head&an/s
sn and ld enugh t 'nw the &eaning * sha&e+ and he
tried s !aliantl( t ste& his s%s that 7athan was al&st
asha&ed t #&*rt hi&) 7athan had a !ague ntin that his
dut( was t tell the #hild that e!er(thing wuld %e all right+
%ut he had a &u#h shar$er #n!i#tin that su#h wrds wuld
%e a lie+ and he did nt want t %e a liar+ e!en *r the sa'e *
the head&an/s %()

While the( &!ed thrugh the r#hard twards the edge *
the .ude(e *rest+ H(dlla as'ed hi& hw large the I&$erial
*r#e was) 7athan re$eated what he had tld 5ana')
That &an(0/ she gas$ed) That/s an ar&(0/
What she &eant was that a *r#e * twent( !ehi#les &ight
%e #arr(ing as &an( as a hundred and *i*t( *ighting &en) The
!illage #uld .ust a%ut &uster a hundred and thirt( &en+ i*
the la%urers *r& the utl(ing *ar&s #uld res$nd t the
su&&ns in ti&e , %ut an( signi*i#ant di**eren#e in
wea$nr(+ 7athan 'new+ wuld &a'e a &#'er( * a near,
e2ualit( * nu&%ers) I* the in!aders had guns * an( * the
'inds that *eatured in the tales he had heard+ the( wuld nt
need t %e giants t slaughter !illagers ar&ed with #lu%s and
$it#h*r's)
Twent( tru#'s isn/t an ar&(+/ Pater Saltana said+ glan#ing
%a#' !er his shulder at the&) /It/s .ust a raiding $art() A *ar
%igger *r#e is said t %e &a'ing ra$id inrads in the nrth+
and ; sus$e#t e!en that/s %ut a *ra#tin * the whle) I *ear that
this is the in!asin * whi#h ur wise,drea&ers ha!e %een
warning us *r &an( (ears) I* s+ the great %ul' * the I&$erial
*r#es will *llw the sh#',tr$s at their wn $a#e , the $a#e
* &ar#hing &en+ nt e!en that * hrses and #a&ules) What
the in!aders will want t %egin with is a series * %ea#hheads
and su$$l(,$ints+ %ut their ulti&ate ai& is t destr( us all)
We ha!e t $re!ent the& *r& esta%lishing a se#ure %ase here)
I* 5ana' #an e&$t( the granar( and tr#h the *ields)))/
7athan #uld #&$lete Pater Saltana/s un*inished senten#e
as easil( as he had %een a%le t *inish H(#illa/s) I* 5ana' #uld
destr( the !illage/s reser!es * *d+ the head&an #uld $re,
!ent the &arauders *r& getting the su$$lies that the( needed
t *eed the&sel!es in the #&ing wee's and &nths , *r the(
#uldn/t ha!e #arried !er( &u#h #arg a#rss the *dless and
waterless e-$anse * the A&%er Waste , %ut i* 5ana' su#,
#eeded in that+ the in!aders wuld &a'e the !illage $a( in
%ld)
I* the !illagers $ut their *ields t the tr#h+ the I&$eriu&
wuld $ut the& t the tr#h , althugh+ i* what he had alwa(s
%een tld was reall( true+ the( wuld d that an(wa()
Pater Saltana was 2uting the Wisd& * the 7rea&ers when
he said that the ulti&ate ai& * the in!aders was t 'ill e!er(,
ne in Gul1a#andra) The I&$eriu&+ it see&ed+ did nt li'e wrshi$$ers * the gd *
Gul1a#andra+ wh was su$$sedl( a deadl( ene&( * their wn great deit(+ and * e!er(thing
the I&$eriu& std *r)
7athan had nt the slightest idea * what the I&$eriu&
/std *r/+ r wh( the gds were ene&ies ne * anther+ %ut
he did understand that thie!es and &urderers alwa(s li'ed t
.usti*( their a#tins) He had ne!er heard * a &an wh wanted
t %e thught * as e!il+ n &atter hw !ilent and destru#ti!e
his a#tins &ight %e) T .usti*( their slaughter+ the I&$eriu&
had t #lai& that the gd * Gul1a#andra was a %ad gd+ utterl(
undeser!ing * their wrshi$)
/I* there/s nthing le*t *r the& here+/ 7athan said+ gri&l(+ /at
least the(/ll g awa( , and we/ll %e *ree t $ra( that the( wn/t
#&e %a#' *r a li*eti&e and &re)/
/I* nl( it were that si&$le+/ Pater Saltana said) /I* the(/re
#rssing the A&%er Waste in *r#e as well as sending tru#'lads
* sldiers int the nrthlands and the suthlands+ the(/ll need
a %ase herea%uts) I* the( de#ide that Odienne/s well,$la#ed t
ser!e as a wa(,statin+ the( &ight %e here *r a li*eti&e))) and
&re)/
/And what shall we d then6/ H(#illa wanted t 'nw) /I* an(
* us is still ali!e6/
<
TWO
E=EN THOUGH GA=ALON/S &a'eshi*t ar&( had %arel( %egun t
#&e tgether+ let alne seen an( a#tin+ the nise and the
stin' * the en#a&$&ent were %e#&ing un%eara%le) There
were t &an( %east&en in it+ and t &an( &en wh were
al&st as #areless in their h(giene)
Had the $r*essin * sr#er( %een 'inder t its *llwers+ a
&an li'e Ca!aln wuld ha!e %een i&&une t all **ensi!e
durs+ and i* it had %een 'inder still the ree' * %east&en
&ight ha!e see&ed a deli#ate $er*u&e+ %ut the wrld was nt
a 'ind $la#e+ e!en t the &st *aith*ul ser!ant * the truest
gd) In the end+ Ga!aln had t ste$ ut * his tent in sear#h
* *resher air+ %ut he did nt *ind it)
In rder t ta'e his &ind ** the nis&e 2ualit( * the air+
Ga!aln l'ed u$ , with a great deal * $ride and a little
tre$idatin , at the %anner *luttering a%!e his &ulti#lured
tent+ whi#h std ut %right and #lear e!en against the #lud,
less !ilet s'() The i&age $ainted u$n it was that * a huge
e(e ri&&ed in red+ with a thin $ur$le iris surrunding a huge
%la#' $u$il) A #atara#t * white *ire .etted *r& the #entre *
the $u$il+ e-tending int a %ea& as wide as the %anner/s he&)
The *luttering de!i#e was nt &agi#all( a#ti!e at $resent+ %ut it
was &ena#ing e!en as a &ere i&age)
The e(e n the %anner was the all,seeing e(e+ the withering
e(e+ whse ga1e #uld %last &inds and s#r#h the& #lean *
an( !estige * ratinal thught when the %anner #a&e t li*e)
The %anner that %re su#h an e(e was &re than a wea$n4 it
was the $tent s(&%l * Ga!aln/s $wer and authrit() It
was the %adge * the &st $wer*ul sr#erer in Cul1a#andra+
whi#h &eant the &st $wer*ul in all the wrld nwada(s)
Ga!aln was 'nwn t e!er(ne wh 'new his na&e as
Ga!aln the Great+ althugh his ene&ies had a$$lied less *lat,
tering e$ithets t hi& in the da(s %e*re their e-ter&inatin)
Fi!e li*eti&es ag+ i* the intelligen#e * lre and legend
#uld %e trusted+ the &st $wer*ul sr#erer in Cul1a#andra
wuld ha!e %een the s&allest digit n a hand * *i!e *ingers+
ea#h *inger s(&%li1ing ne * the *i!e #i!ili1atins whi#h
shared the wrld/s three #ntinents) But *ur li*eti&es ag the
stars had slwed their #easeless &!e&ent in the night,s'(
and the I&$eriu& had *allen *r& the s'( in a shwer * slw
&eters)
Within ten (ears+ Ga!aln had %een tld+ the I&$eriu& had
ta'en a%slute #ntrl * 5ala1endra+ and within a *urther
twent(,*i!e (ears three ther #i!ili1atins , "enda&ra+
Bul1a!ara and 9e!el'ana , had %e#&e &ere $u$$ets+ sla!es
t i&$rted law) Onl( "enda&ra had %een .ined t
5ala1endra %ut the seas that di!ided the wrld had nt %een
%arrier enugh t $rte#t Bul1a!ara and 9e!el'ana+ r the
island * 8el&a(a'a that la( hal*,wa( %etween the western,
&st #a$e * 5ala1endra and the eastern&st e-tre&it( *
Cul1a#andra) Onl( the girth * the wrld+ and the wastelands
and high &untains that di!ided the land&ass shared %(
9e!el'ana and Gul1a#andra+ had 'e$t Ga!aln/s h&eland
sa*e *r& in!asin))) until nw)
Nw+ the ti&e had *inall( #&e) 9e!el'anan &er#enaries
were $uring thrugh the #astal lands in the *ar west and
"enda&ran war*leets su$$lied *r& 8el&a(a'a were
%l#'ading the eastern $rts+ while what re&ained * the n#e
all,$wer*ul I&$erial *r#es were stri'ing westwards a#rss the
wastelands t dri!e dee$ int the heart * Gul1a#andra)
The strateg( was sund enugh) Fr #enturies %e*re the
I&$eriu& #a&e+ i* nt &illennia+ the &en * Gul1a#andra had rganised their de*en#es t
withstand the raids * 8el&a(a'an $irates and 9e!el'anan ad!enturers) The heart,
land+ %u**ered %( the wastelands+ had ne!er needed signi*i#ant *rti*i#atin) Cara!ans * #a&ules
#uld #rss the wastes+ and &en n hard( hrses #uld #arr( water enugh t
get the& a#rss $r!ided the( #arried little else+ %ut n rdinar( ar&( weighed dwn %( its
e2ui$&ent #uld h$e t arri!e in an( #nditin t *ight) Onl( the I&$erial ar&( itsel*
#uld d that+ and *r tw hundred (ears the I&$eriu& had had &re i&$rtant things t d)
Nw+ with the e-#e$tin * a hand*ul * islands inha%ited
%( sa!ages+ Gul1a#andra was the last territr( t resist I&$erial
law4 the last territr( where the true *aith was $enl( and
gladl( $r*essed+ and its #ust&s $u%li#l( *llwed) There
were sr#erers still in 9e!el'ana+ "enda&ra and Bul1a!ara ,
and &re than a *ew e!en in 5ala1endra , %ut the( had $er,
*r#e t $erate in the stri#test se#re#() Nt ne * the& #uld
e!er a#hie!e the 'ind * $re,e&inen#e !er his *ellws that
entitled Ca!aln the Great t the tri%ute * his surna&e)
Banners and standards *luttered !er a d1en ther tents
$it#hed n the s,#alled headland+ %ut the( all dis$la(ed $en
hands rather than e(es) S&e * the hands #arried *la&ing
s'ulls+ while thers %re ser$entine s(&%ls+ %ut Ga!aln had
reser!ed the withering e(e *r hi&sel*) His thrall,wi1ards and
his %east&en wre !arius !ersins * it+ t &ar' the& ut as
**i#ers * his $ersnal retinue+ althugh his lesser ser!ants
&ade d with the sa&e annular insignia as an( ther gun,
*dder)
Ca!aln had alread( %egun thin'ing * the %ul' * his
*r#es as /gun,*dder/+ e!en thugh the( had ne!er *a#ed guns
%e*re) The in#redi%l( $wer*ul wea$ns that the I&$erial
*r#es had %rught with the& t their e$#h,&a'ing landing
were ru&ured t %e al&st ut * a&&unitin nw+ %ut
their wners had &ade the &st * their te&$rar( ad!antage)
The guns $rdu#ed in their 5ala1endran *a#tries were %( n
&eans as $wer*ul as thse their *re%ears had %rught *r&
the star,wrlds+ %ut the( were guns ne!ertheless) There was
nthing in Gul1a#andra that #uld #&$ete with the& ,
e-#e$t+ * #urse+ &agi#)
I* the I&$eriu& was t %e st$$ed+ &agi# wuld %e the
*r#e that wuld d it)

Ga!aln had e!er( res$e#t *r and e!er( *aith in &agi# ,
hw #uld it %e therwise+ gi!en that he was the greatest sr,
#erer in Gul1a#andra6 , %ut he als had e!er( res$e#t *r
histr(+ and he 'new that &agi# had nt sa!ed the sr#erers
* 5ala1endra *r& I&$erial *ire$wer+ and that &agi# had
nt $re!ented the series * treasns that had %rught
"enda&ra+ Bul1a!ara and 9e!el'ana int the I&$erial *ld
ne %( ne)
Fr whate!er reasn+ the gd wh had n#e %een the gd
* all *i!e great natins had de#ided+ a*ter his i&$enetra%l(
&(sterius *ashin+ t let his #hildren su**er de*eat a*ter
de*eat a*ter de*eat+ e!en thugh the stars had %egun t swi&
in the night,s'( li'e s &an( &ulti#lured *ish al&st as
sn as the I&$erial shi$s had landed) N &re shi$s had
#&e t rein*r#e the *irst wa!e * i&&igrants , and i* the
gd * Gul1a#andra #hse t %e &er#i*ul+ n &re shi$s
wuld e!er #&e , %ut thse whi#h had #&e had dne
da&age a$lent()
Onl( nw was the tide t turn+ i* it were t turn at all , %ut
i* and when it turned+ it wuld surel( turn with all the sa!age
*ur( * whi#h the !enge*ul gd * Gul1a#andra was #a$a%le)
Perha$s+ Ga!aln thught+ that was the wa( his lrd $re,
*erred t $la( ut the ga&e , *r what was li*e t the gds+ and
e!er(thing else in the uni!erse %esides+ %ut a ga&e6 The
wrld/s &is*rtune &ight+ i* seen in the right light+ %e nthing
%ut a stage *r his wn glr() Gul1a#andra had %een the least
* the *i!e #i!ili1atins+ the s&allest *inger n the &ight(
hand+ %ut it was nw the $ulsing heart * the true gd/s
wrldl( 'ingd&+ and its sr#erer,in,#hie* was Ga!aln the
Great+ Ga!aln the Su&&ner and Ca!aln the 5ee$er * the
=essel4 in %rie*+ Ga!aln the 8idwi*e * the Future)
Al&st as thugh he had su&&ned hi& u$+ the =essel ,
whse na&e was Ni&ian , #a&e ut * the tent %ehind his
'ee$er+ l'ing ner!usl( *r& side t side at the %east&en
whi#h std guard at its entran#e) The( were e-trardinaril(
ugl(+ e!en *r %east&en , the( had great+ hrned+ shagg(
heads li'e (a's and *eet li'e stri#hes , %ut there was n rea,
sn in the wrld wh( the =essel shuld *ear the&)
Perha$s it was anther * the gd/s little .ests that had &ade
Ni&ian ner!us * s &an( things+ r $erha$s there was
s&e $ur$se in it whi#h Ga!aln #uld nt (et #&$rehend)
E!en Ga!aln the Great was &erel( a &rtal+ at least *r the
ti&e %eing , %ut wh #uld 'nw what a *a!urite ser!ant *
the true gd &ight ne da( %e#&e+ in the right #ir#u&,
stan#es6
/It has %egun+/ Ni&ian said) The %( had %!iusl( sle$t late
again+ as all wise,drea&ers tended t d+ %ut nw he was
awa'e there was s&ething a%ut hi& that wuld ha!e dis,
#&*ited an( rdinar( &an) E!en the &st inn#uus *
wise,drea&ers grew t inti&idate their *ellws+ and *r all his
see&ing *ee%leness and %!ius tre$idatin Ni&ian was nt
the &st inn#uus * wise,drea&ers)
/O* #urse it has %egun+/ Ca!aln tld hi&) /Wh( wuld I
ta'e the tru%le t gather an ar&(+ i* the *inal $hase had nt
alread( %egun6 This is nt the srt * enter$rise ne under,
ta'es *r idle a&use&ent) 9u #an ha!e n idea * the
$lanning that is re2uired t &aintain an ar&(+ e!en i* its
&e&%ers are &erel( sitting arund+ waiting *r rders as t
hw t dis$se the&sel!es when the( &ar#h t &eet the
ene&()/
In *a#t+ he thught+ it was &re di**i#ult t &aintain an
ar&( that was resting than an ar&( n the &!e+ %e#ause *
the ine!ita%le $r%le&s * su$$l( and sanitatin+ %ut there
was n $int in tr(ing t e-$lain that t Ni&ian) The =essel
was thirteen (ears ld and nt destined t get &u#h &re than
a da( lder , althugh he was nt destined t die+ either+ in
an( rdinar( sense * the wrd)
As *r the ne wh wuld #&e t ##u$( the =essel))) that
ne+ h$e*ull( i* nt $resu&a%l(+ wuld need n e-$lanatins
* an(thing &undane)
H$e*ull()
Presu&a%l()))
Ca!aln *urrwed his %rw as he realised that this was an
in#n!enient $int * ignran#e) He had n idea what e-$la,
natins the %eing he was t su&&n wuld re2uire) But the
shadw $assed 2ui#'l( enugh) A l(al ser!ant * the Changer
* the Wa(s had t d a great deal * h$e*ul $resu&$tin+
and had t $ut u$ with a great deal &re in#n!enient ign,
ran#e)
What was *aith %ut &rtar t hld the %ri#'s * #ertaint(
tgether+ and what was h$e %ut the $lan * the edi*i#e t %e
%uilt6

/We shuld nt %e here> Ni&ian tld Ga!aln $etulantl()
This is nt the $la#e+ and the ti&e will sn %e u$n us)/
/When the ti&e #&es+/ Ga!aln said+ /we shall %e e-a#tl(
where we are su$$sed t %e) Tda(+ I a& su$$sed t %e
here) I a& the #&&ander * this gathering hst and I &ust
%e seen) 8( %anner &ust %e seen+ and I &ust %e seen stand,
ing %eneath it) I a& the li!ing s(&%l * the withering e(e+
and the ritual is nt &( nl( dut(+ *r all that it &a( %e the
*irst and *re&st)/
Ni&ian l'ed arund at the hu&ans and %east&en hurr(,
ing in e!er( dire#tin) Ca!aln guessed that the %( was
thin'ing that hardl( ne in ten * the& had ti&e t l' u$ at
his %anner r sidewa(s at his *a#e , and that e!en thse wh
had ti&e wuld $re*er nt t d either) Ideall(+ the withering
e(e ught t ha!e %een a *lesh %anner+ its design ins#ri%ed n
&agi#all(,ani&ated s'in *la(ed *r& a dead ene&(+ %ut the
$$rtunit( t &a'e su#h a de!i#e had nt (et $resented itsel*)
In an( #ase+ tanned #a&ule,s'in was &u#h &re resilient than
the hide * an( * the s$e#ies whi#h+ i* legend #uld %e trusted+
hu&ans had %rught with the& when the( *irst arri!ed n this
wrld+ thusands * (ears %e*re the I&$erial shi$s had
$r!ed t the s#e$ti#s that there reall( were ther wrlds r%it,
ing ther+ distant suns+ and that there reall( &ight %e a &illin
#lnised wrlds inha%ited %( &en)
Ca&ule,s'in r nt+ hwe!er+ the withering e(e %anner was
a $tent wea$n+ and an inti&idating sight e!en in its rest,
state) It was nt sur$rising that *ew &en r %east&en #ared t
l' u$ at it *r lng) When the ti&e #a&e t $a#' u$ the
gaud( tents and $ut n ar&ur+ e!er(ne dra*ted t this *r#e
wuld re&e&%er that *ell %anner well enugh) The( wuld
&ar#h as i* the ga1e * that terri%le e(e were still u$n the& ,
and as i* the ga1e * Ga!aln/s e(es were u$n the& t)
Ga!aln was well aware that the (ears had trans*r&ed hi&
int a sight al&st as unsettling as his %anner) The #han,
nelling * his lrd/s dar' &agi# had e-a#ted its hea!( $enalties
u$n his *lesh+ %ut he did nt &ind that in the least) In the
da(s %e*re he had %een Ga!aln the Great he &ight ha!e
%een re#'ned &erel( ugl(+ %ut n ne wuld e!er again thin'
* hi& as /&erel(/ an(thing) His ugliness was nw s$e#ta#ular+
i* nt su%li&e) Pe$le wh did nt 'nw hi& ##asinall(
t' hi& *r a %east&an+ e!en thugh his *eet still re2uired
%ts and nne #uld $ut a na&e t the twisted %east whse
head he nw wre)
/One des nt need t %e stared at in rder t %e seen)>
Ca!aln assured the =essel) /A &an t %e re#'ned with is a
&an wh i&$resses hi&sel* u$n the &ind e!en i* he is
gli&$sed *r a 2uarter,se#nd ut * the #rner * ne e(e) A
&an *it t %e &re than a &an i&$resses hi&sel* e!en n
thse wh d nt 'nw that the( ha!e seen hi&+ t wh& he
a$$ears nl( as the *ig&ent * a night&are4 a sha$e sensed in
a shadw+ r a #lud * dust %ut ne!er #learl( seen at all) 7n/t
du%t that &( $resen#e here is 'nwn and *elt , and will still
%e 'nwn and *elt when I &ust withdraw &( $ersn in rder
t #&$lete the ritual that will seal the *ate * this wrld)/
/In rder+ in rder+/ Ni&ian &uttered+ as thugh the $hrase
har%ured s&e %s#enit() The %( was h$$ing u$ and
dwn n his *eet+ as i* he needed t urinate , %ut the *r#e that
ani&ated hi& was *ar &re $ri&al) He was+ in truth+ an une-,
$e#tedl( &isera%le s$e#i&en4 shrt+ thin and ugl() Ca!aln
'new+ liwe!er+ that it was alwa(s the ugliest gru%s that &eta,
&r$hsed int the &st $wer*ul greOies and the &st
%eauti*ul da(&ths) E!en &egas#ara%s %egan li*e as &ere
wirewr&s , and what was the &eta&r$hsis * su#h hu&,
%le %eings %ut a li!ing testa&ent t the sa#red whi&s( * the
al&ight( Changer * the Wa(s6
Ca!aln sigualled t a gru$ * %east&en wh were sitting
in a #ir#le+ $ainsta'ingl( %ut nt !er( s'il*ull( shar$ening their
s$ears) The ne wh *irst res$nded t the su&&ns was nl(
slightl( less stu$id than the rest+ %ut he #uld %e trusted t
trans&it a #&&and) /8a'e read(+/ Ca!aln said t hi&) The
=essel de$arts *r the r#' within the hur)/
The %east&an nl( grwled+ its %!ine thrat %eing ill,
e2ui$$ed *r an( ther 'ind * re$l(+ %ut Ga!aln was
#n*ident that his will wuld %e dne) The great ad!antage *
stu$idit( was that it was s easil( trans*r&ed int l(alt() A
%east&an &ight %e *ar less #a$a%le * #n!ersatin than a
hu&an *l li'e Ni&ian+ %ut an( in his retinue wuld %e $re,
$ared t hurl itsel* in *rnt * its &aster in rder t inter#e$t a
deadl( &issile+ r t #harge a %attle,tan' ar&ed nl( with a
s$ear i* e!er there was a ta#ti#al situatin that de&anded su#h
*utilit() Had Ni&ian nt %een the =essel+ the *lish %( #uld
nt ha!e %een trusted t *et#h a #u$ * water *r& a well)
A hu&an #a$tain strde u$+ #arr(ing a $ar#h&ent &a$+ t
sa( that tw %ea#n,*ires had %een sighted in the nrth,east+
signalling that the ene&( had %een sighted) Ga!aln #ursed)
lerius Ful%ra/s assault *r#e was &!ing *aster than an(ne
had anti#i$ated3 it was alread( t #lse *r #&*rt) His wise,
drea&ers had re!ealed that a se#nd #ntingent was s'irting
the suthern edge * the A&%er Waste+ and , &re dis,
tur%ingl( , that a third a$$eared t %e #utting straight a#rss)
I* a $art * that third *r#e were s&ehw t rea#h the $la#e
where the ritual was s#heduled t ta'e $la#e %e*re Ni&ian/s
&eta&r$hsis had %een #&$leted)))
Was it $ssi%le+ Ca!aln wndered+ that the I&$eriu& still
had $s('ers $wer*ul enugh t ha!e %tained intelligen#e *
his $lans+ and s,#alled in2uisitrs #le!er enugh t ta'e
$r$er nte * su#h intelligen#e6 It was *ar &re $r%a%le+
thugh+ that the I&$erial sldiers #rssing the A&%er Waste
&erel( intended t esta%lish a %ase) E!en s+ the( &ight $r!e
tru%les&e)
The #a$tain laid ut his &a$ *r Ca!aln/s ins$e#tin+
shwing hi& the $sitins * Ful%ra/s ad!an#e $art( and the
larger *r#e $ldding in its train , %ut Ga!aln was &re inter,
ested in the rute ta'en %( the third *r#e
/What !illage is this6/ he as'ed) The &a$ had *ew na&es n
it+ a$art *r& Rintrah and Che&sh)
/It is Odienne+ &( lrd/ the #a$tain said) /I was there n#e)
It/s tin(+ and its *ields are $r+ %ut it des ha!e a gd well)/
/7es the head&an 'nw what t d i* he/s atta#'ed6/
/O* #urse) But as'ing !illagers t $isn their wn well is
li'e as'ing a #&&n sldier t *all n his swrd) N &atter
hw thrughl( he/s %een drilled,/
=er( well+/ Ga!aln said %rus2uel() /9u/ll ha!e t &!e
(ur &en nrth and &a'e read( t &eet Ful%ra , at least *i*,
teen &iles+ $erha$s twent()/
The #a$tain/s e(es #luded+ %ut he &ade n $rtest) N
du%t the &an thught that it wuld %e *ll( t g t &eet
Ful%ra+ and that the wisest #urse was nt t *ight a $it#hed
%attle at all , %ut the #a$tain 'new nthing * the =essel and
the ritual)
/9u/d %etter lea!e a reser!e here+ thugh+/ Ga!aln added) /A
#u$le * hundred &en) We/ll al&st #ertainl( ha!e t use
the& as rein*r#e&ents against Ful%ra+ %ut we &ight ha!e t
rea#t t the $resen#e * this third #ntingent %e*re then)/ He
wished that he 'new hw &an( !ehi#les the third #ntingent
had+ and what 'ind * *ire$wer the( were #arr(ing+ %ut his
wise,drea&ers had %een una%le t g int detail)
/9es+ lrd+/ the #a$tain said) /It will %e dne as (u wish)/ He
sunded slightl( resent*ul+ as sldiers led %( sr#erers *ten
did+ Ca!aln 'new) He wuld %e grate*ul enugh *r &agi#al
aid n#e the *ighting a#tuall( started+ thugh , he 'new *ull
well that his raga&u**in &ilitia wuldn/t last ten &inutes
against e!en a single I&$erial $latn withut it)
/7n/t wrr(+ #a$tain+/ Ga!aln said+ &a'ing n $arti#ular
e**rt t sund #n*ident+ r e!en sin#ere) /N ne will %e as',
ing (u t *all n (ur swrd+ e!en i* things g wrng when
the *irst #lash #&es) N ne is e-$enda%le nw+ nt e!en *r
hnur/s sa'e , and the *inal settle&ent will de$end n *r#es
*ar %e(nd (ur #ntrl)/
/That I 'nw+/ the #a$tain said glu&l(+ glan#ing sidewa(s at
the =essel) The glan#e al&st turned int a stare+ %ut there was
s&ething in Ni&ian/s see&ingl(,inn#ent a$$earan#e that
$re!ented it) When the #a$tain dr$$ed his e(es it was t the
*lr) He had nt e!en atte&$ted t &eet Ga!aln/s e(e+ r the
%anner/s)
/We are the destined !i#trs0/ Ca!aln said+ #ldl()
/Gul1a#andra will sa!e the wrld) We are the *a!ured #hildren
* the Changer * the Wa(s+ and we shall %e his instru&ent *
!engean#e against the in!aders)/
/8( lrd+/ the #a$tain said as he turned awa() I* he du%ted
what Ca!aln had said+ he did nt shw it , %ut Ga!aln
'new well enugh that this &an+ li'e e!er( ther asse&%led
n the *ield+ &ust ha!e heard that there were a &illin ther
wrlds li'e this ne) The #a$tain &ust ha!e wndered
whether+ i* that were true+ and i* the Changer * the Wa(s were
interested in e!er( ne * the& what right an( $ett( l#al tri%e
#uld $ssi%l( ha!e t thin' the&sel!es his *a!ured #hildren+
r the #hsen instru&ent * his !engean#e)
But the 7i!ine S#he&er is a &ight( gd indeed+ Ca!aln
tld hi&sel*) I* he su**ers gru%s and wr&s t %e#&e
&egas#ara%s+ gre*lies and da(&ths+ wh( shuld he nt
su**er &en t %e#&e his #herished #ha&$ins+ r dae&ns
&re $wer*ul than e-$lding stars6 And i* he has his
*a!urites a&ng &en+ a& I nt ne * the&6 A& I nt+ in
*a#t+ *ar &re deser!ing * *a!ur than a &isera%le wret#h li'e
Ni&ian6 Surel( I a& destined *r a %etter *ate than he+ e!en
thugh he is the =essel) Fr I+ a*ter all+ a& the 5ee$er and the
Su&&ner+ the 8idwi*e * the Future) I a& the 7i!ine
S#he&er/s Chsen One+ his Child+ his Cha&$in)
He %elie!ed it+ *irstl( %e#ause he had t and se#ndl( , r s
he had t tell hi&sel* , %e#ause it was true) The gds had t %e
trusted+ %e#ause the( had t %e trustwrth(+ %e#ause the( were
gds) It was as si&$le as that)
<
THREE
THE IU7E9E FOREST was thrn( %ut the grund was t dr( and
stn( t allw the $lants t grw densel( tgether+ s it was
eas( enugh t $ass %etween the trees unin.ured) 8st * the
.ude(es were &ere %ushes+ and &st * the lea!es u$n the&
were thin and wrin'led+ see&ing &re thrn than *lesh) It was
nt a gd hiding,$la#e i* a *ugiti!e &ight lie there undete#ted
while s&all ar&ies * ardent sear#hers $assed the& %(+ %ut it
was nt the 'ind * $la#e that ene&ies wuld %ther t sear#h
#are*ull( unless the( had a $wer*ul reasn)
Pater Saltana guided his $art( t a #a!e set int the side *
ne * the largest r#'( ut#r$s in the *rest) It &ust ha!e
%een a natural #a!e at ne ti&e+ %ut it had %een *urther hl,
lwed ut %( &etal tls at s&e ti&e in the distant $ast , the
!er( distant $ast+ lng %e*re the I&$eriu& had *allen ut *
the s'() Its entran#e was $rl( #n#ealed+ %ut it was shad(
and #l and there was a water,%arrel stwed in a hllw at
the rear) On#e the #hildren had %een sa*el( herded inside+
thugh+ 7athan was enthusiasti# t #li&% the r#',*a#e t
'ee$ a l'ut)
/9u #an/t see the !illage *r& there+/ H(#illa $inted ut)
/N+> 7athan ad&itted+ /%ut I #uld see s&'e rising int the
air *r& the huses r the *ields+ and I #uld see &en #&ing
thrugh the *rest)/
/N ne will #&e int the *rest+/ Saltana assured hi&+
althugh the ld &an didn/t see& !er( #n*ident) The(/d ha!e
t #&e n *t+ and the( wn/t lea!e their !ehi#les) The(/ll
$r%a%l( g straight thrugh int the $lain+ h$ing t #at#h
Ga!aln/s *r#es %( sur$rise+ %e*re the(/re *ull( gathered and
%attle,read()/
/And i* the( dn/t6/ 7athan wanted t 'nw)
Saltana didn/t answer) It was H(#illa wh said4 /5ana' will
send a &essenger with *urther,/
That was when the( *irst heard the sund * gun*ire) It was a
sund nne * the& had e!er heard %e*re+ %ut 7athan 'new
i&&ediatel( what it was) His *irst i&$ulse was t wish that he
had $aused lng enugh at his huse t *ind s&ething that
#uld ser!e as a wea$n+ %ut he realised i&&ediatel( that i*
e!en a 2uarter * what he had heard ru&ured a%ut the guns
* the I&$eriu& were true+ nthing the !illage had in the wa(
* wea$nr( #uld $r!ide a &an with ade2uate sel*,de*en#e)
Nthing #uld $$se that 'ind **ire$wer %ut &agi#+ and the
!illage had little enugh * that)
In *a#t+ 7athan realised+ al&st all * what little &agi# the
!illage did $ssess was ldged with hi& here+ in the $ersn *
Saltana , $erha$s als in H(#illa) That did nt in#rease his #n,
*iden#e at all) Pater Saltana was surel( the $ettiest sr#erer
i&agina%le+ and e!en i* Saltana/s .udg&ent * H(#illa/s talent
were #rre#t+ the talent in 2uestin had hardl( %egun t %l&)
7athan had thught it a%surd at *irst when H(#illa had tld
hi& that she &ight ne da( %e a wise,drea&er) But in re#ent
wee's he had nti#ed n ##asin that a #ertain #hill entered
int $la#es where she was+ and that adles#ents wh had nt
%een su#h *ast *riends with her as he had alwa(s %een had
%egun t *eel uneas( in her $resen#e)
/I/& ging u$ an(wa(+/ 7athan said) /I want t see whate!er
there is t %e seen)/
He didn/t wait *r an( *urther dis#ussin+ %ut set a%ut s#al,
ing the r#',*a#e) It nl( t' ten &inutes t #la&%er all the
wa( t the t$+ %ut the e**rt le*t hi& shrt * %reath and he
had t lie dwn *r a *urther &inute r tw %e*re standing u$
%eside the twisted trun' * a hundred,(ear,ld tree+ #raning his
ne#' e!en thugh he 'new that the tallest #hi&ne(s in the !illage wuld still %e in!isi%le)
He was right a%ut the s&'e) Lng #lu&ns were alread(
rising *r& hal* a d1en di**erent $la#es+ and &re were
a$$earing with e!er( &inute that $assed) One #lu&n+ t the
west * the !illage+ was a %ea#n *ire set t warn the sentries n
the l',ut twers * 8an#i$ and El!enr * the atta#') The
re&ainder were all in the !illage+ testi*(ing t the *er#it( * the
assault that had %een laun#hed against it)
Saltana had+ hwe!er+ %een wrng a%ut the atta#'ers sti#',
ing t their !ehi#les and ignring the .ude(e *rest) Tw sinister
sha$es n *t were alread( !isi%le+ &!ing thrugh the trees)
Had the( nt %een s intent n l'ing t right and le*t+ as
i* the( e-$e#ted e!er( last tree t #n#eal sa!agel( ar&ed !il,
lagers l(ing in a&%ush *r the&+ the sldiers &ight ha!e
#aught sight * 7athan %e*re he sli$$ed %ehind the an#ient
trun' * the tree , %ut he did nt thin' that the( had) A*ter a
*ew heart%eats+ he $ee$ed arund the trun'+ deter&ined t see
what he #uld withut %eing s$tted hi&sel*)
The uni*r&s the tw &en wre see&ed little &re e-ti# t
7athan than the #lthes wrn %( traders+ and the &en the&,
sel!es , thugh the( were %!iusl( *reigners , were *ar &re
rdinar( than he had anti#i$ated) But the( were #arr(ing guns4
hea!(+ wide,%arrelled things that re2uired tw hands) 7athan
had n idea whether the guns $rdu#ed &issiles r *lds *
*ire+ %ut he had n wish t *ind ut) He had n idea+ either+ wh(
the &en had #&e int the *rest+ gi!en that 5ana'/s &en and
the !illage w&en wuld ha!e *led in an( ther dire#tin %ut
this ne , %ut e!en i* the ene&( 'new that+ the( &ight ha!e
#nsidered it ne#essar( t lea!e n grund unin!estigated)
The gun&en were alread( t #lse t allw 7athan t #all
ut a warning withut drawing attentin t hi&sel*+ and he
'new that he #uld nt #li&% dwn the e-$sed r#',*a#e
withut %eing seen) Fr ne re#'less &&ent he #nsidered
the $ssi%ilit( * deli%eratel( #alling attentin t hi&sel* in the
h$e that he &ight lead the sldiers awa( *r& the #a!e+ as a
&ther,%ird &ight lead a wl*- awa( *r& her nest+ %ut he
dis#arded the idea i&&ediatel() He had n idea what the range
r $wer * the guns were+ and i* all that was needed t dis$se
* hi& was a single sht there wuld %e n $int at all in &a',
ing hi&sel* a target)

The %est thing t d+ he de#ided+ i* he #uld $ssi%l( &an,
age it+ was t wr' his wa( arund %ehind the tw &en) I* the(
wuld nl( draw *ar enugh a$art+ and i* nl( he #uld #ree$
u$ n ne+ and ta'e hi& %( sur$rise+ and sta% hi& with his eat,
ing,'ni*e in su#h a wa( as t $enetrate an arter()))
He dis#arded that ntin t) It was )stu$id+ %e#ause it was
i&$ssi%le)
He l'ed arund *r a wea$n+ hwe!er &a'eshi*t+ %ut
there was nthing) Fallen %ughs ne!er la( lng n the grund
e!en in a $la#e li'e this+ gi!en the !illage/s e!er,urgent need *r
*irewd) There were a *ew lse stnes * a #n!enient si1e *r
thrwing+ %ut the( were &ere $e%%les+ and it wuld ha!e
re2uired &re than a slingsht t &a'e the& int use*ul &is,
siles) He $i#'ed u$ a #u$le an(wa(+ si&$l( %e#ause the( were
#lse at hand+ ldged %etween the gnarled rts * the .ude(e
tree)
7athan had ne!er *elt s hel$less) He had t h$e that the
gun&en wuld $ass %( the #a!e withut sus$e#ting that it was
##u$ied) He $ra(ed that Saltana and H(#illa had enugh
&agi# %etween the& t 'ee$ the #hildren 2uiet and #ntri!e
s&e 'ind * su%tle #n#eal&ent)
Perha$s it wuld ha!e wr'ed ut that wa(+ and $erha$s nt+
%ut e!ents t' anther turn) The gun&en had nt seen an( *
the !illage/s de*enders running int the .ude(e *rest+ %ut the
!illage/s de*enders had seen the&+ and had 'nwn what was at
sta'e) The $lan that 7athan had re.e#ted as i&$ssi%le #learl(
did nt see& s t thers+ *r the tw ene&( sldiers alread(
had a $air * stealth( $ursuers #ree$ing swi*tl( u$ %ehind
the&+ #learl( !isi%le t 7athan *r& his ele!ated $sitin %ut
2uite in!isi%le t their 2uarr() One was Rel*the %a'er+ the ther
a la%urer na&ed Pa!t *r& the Tahiri *ar&)
Alas+ thugh the &en were as (et in!isi%le t the in!aders+
the( were nt inaudi%le)
7athan saw ne * the sldiers start and turn+ and 'new
that he was a%ut t #all ut a warning) Instin#ti!el(+ he
hurled ne * the stnes he had $i#'ed u$ , nt at the sldier+
whi#h wuld ha!e %een *utile+ %ut at the #rwn * a .ude(e
awa( t the sldier/s le*t) As the gun&an !i#ed his warning
the $e%%le rattled the thrn( lea!es+ i&&ediatel( drawing the
&an/s attentin awa( *r& the dire#tin in whi#h the threat
a#tuall( la()
Withut $ausing *r thught+ 7athan hurled the ther stne
at a tree t the right * the ther sldier+ and i&&ediatel(
dr$$ed t his 'nees in sear#h * &re)
N sner had he $ut his hand n anther stne than he
hurled it high and wide with all his &ight+ nt %thering t
sear#h *r a target) He h$ed that the #n*usin he swed
&ight $ersuade the gun&en that the( were surrunded+ and
&ight $erha$s #reate a &argin * $$rtunit( *r their $ur,
suers t atta#')
The tr$s had nt the slightest idea hw &an( ad!ersaries
the( &ight %e *a#ing+ r hw well the( &ight %e ar&ed) In all
li'elihd+ the( had ne!er seen e!en a .ude(e tree %e*re+ and
had n idea what #reatures &ight %e lur'ing in a *rest *
the&) The( were ta'ing n #han#es) The( raised their guns ,
and what their guns unleashed was a 'ind * *ire)
Li!ing .ude(e trees were resistant t the heat * the sun+ and
t the 'inds * *ire,&a'ing a$$aratus the !illagers had+ %ut this
'ind * *ire was s&ething else) The #rwns * the trees agitated
%( 7athan/s stnes+ and tw r three thers %esides+ were
instantaneusl( trans*r&ed int huge %alls * *la&e) Their
trun's e-$lded ne a*ter anther+ sending %urning wd in
e!er( dire#tin) The nise was *right*ul+ all,#nsu&ing+ li'e
nthing 7athan had e!er heard %e*re) It nl( re2uired thse
tw shts t start a #n*lagratin that $r&ised t engul* the
entire *rest+ and the tw sldiers realised that al&st i&&edi,
atel()
The( did what &ust ha!e see&ed t the& t %e the sensi%le
thing) The( turned %a#')
The tw !illagers wh had %een atte&$ting t #ree$ u$
%ehind the gun&en wuld ha!e had little r n $$rtunit( t
get dse enugh t use their %lades+ %ut there was n #han#e
nw * their %eing heard and the gun&en had set their wn
a&%ush %( turning %a#' twards the&) N &atter hw $wer,
*ul the guns &ight %e+ the( were rather unwield(+ and the
gun&en were &&entaril( **,guard)
Rel* and Pa!t $un#ed+ their %lades red with re*le#ted *ire,
light)
The I&$erial sldiers rea#ted+ %ut their *irst res$nse had t
%e t use their guns as #lu%s) Had the !illagers #arried s$ears+
r e!en real swrds+ ne thrust &ight ha!e %een enugh+ %ut
their %lades were shrt+ edged rather than $inted) 7athan thught that Rel*+ at least+ had
in*li#ted a serius #ut+ %ut neither &an gt the #han#e t in*li#t a se#nd) The sldiers were
trained3 the( had $ra#tised hand,t,hand *ighting)
One sldier s&ashed the %arrel * his wea$n int Pa!t/s
*a#e) The la%urer was a %ig &an+ well,used t hea!( wr'+ %ut
he #uld nt ta'e a %lw li'e that and re&ain standing) He *ell
n t his %a#'+ his ar&s s$rawling) He 'e$t his *ist #len#hed
a%ut the hilt * his 'ni*e+ %ut the wea$n was !irtuall( useless
unless he #uld get u$ again) He #uld nt4 the I&$erial sl,
dier was *ar t s'illed in his &urderus trade t let an
$$rtunit( g+ and he stru#' again with the %arrel * his gun+
dri!ing it int Pa!t/s grin with all the *r#e he #uld &uster)
Rel*+ &eanwhile+ had %een stru#' s shar$l( n the right ar&
that the %nes had #ra#'ed) He dr$$ed his wea$n+ %ut he
#uld nt ha!e used it e!en i* his ner!eless *ingers had &ain,
tained the gri$) A se#nd swee$ * the hea!( *la&e,gun t'
his legs awa() He *ell e!en &re hea!il(+ and e!en &re aw',
wardl(+ than his %igger #&$anin)
Nw that %th wuld,%e a&%ushers had %een laid *lat+ the
I&$erial sldiers #al#ulated ea#h *urther %lw) Althugh the(
#ntinued t use their %i1arre wea$ns as instru&ents * #rude+
%rute *r#e+ the( did s with ruthless e**i#ien#()
As 7athan wat#hed the %dies .er' re*le-i!el( and the %ld
$ling n the dr( sil+ he 'new that neither !illager wuld
e!er get u$ again) It did nt re2uire &u#h * his i&aginatin t
$i#ture si&ilar s#enes re$eated twel!e r twent( ti&es !er) He
#uld hear the sund * guns * a di**erent 'ind+ %lasting and
stuttering+ and he #uld hear the sund * distant s#rea&ing+
%ut in his &ind/s e(e the &assa#re * his *riends and neigh,
%urs was an endless series * re$etitins * what he had .ust
seen3 strng &en+ well,trained and well,ar&ed+ %eating the li*e
ut * hel$less inn#ents , and then adding a *ew e-tra %lws+
*r the sa'e * insult)
In the &eanti&e+ the #hildren *led)
Saltana and H(#illa &ust ha!e realised !er( 2ui#'l( that the(
#uld nt sta( where the( were in the &iddle * a *rest *ire+
and the( &ust ha!e de#ided that their %est #han#e * sur!i!al
la( in running as 2ui#'l( as $ssi%le in ?he dire#tin $$site
t the !illage , westwards) Whether the( had a#tuall( de#ided
t s#atter+ r whether it was &ere $ani#+ 7athan did nt 'nw+
%ut s#atter the( had)
It wuld ha!e %een %etter+ 7athan realised+ i* the I&$erial
sldiers had nt %een atta#'ed) In that #ase+ the( wuld $r%,
a%l( ha!e #ntinued their retreat withut l'ing %a#') As
things were+ the( were still l'ing arund *r ther $ssi%le
dangers when the #hildren tried t &a'e their es#a$e)
The nise * the %urning trees and the sunds * the #n*li#t
in the !illage was easil( lud enugh t #!er the sund * run,
ning *eet+ and a#rid s&'e was alread( %uilding a s#reen+ %ut
ne * the tr$ers saw s&ething+ and i&&ediatel( set ** at
a run in the dire#tin the *ugiti!es had ta'en) His #&$anin
hesitated+ then *llwed)
The thi#' s&'e rising u$ the r#',*a#e *r#ed 7athan %a#'
*r& the edge) His e(es were alread( s&arting+ and he 'new
that he had t *ind %etter air t %reathe+ s he t &!ed west,
wards+ 'nwing as he #a&e dwn the *urther sl$e * the
ut#r$ that he wuld ha!e t %e !er( war( indeed when he
rea#hed the *rest *lr)
Fr the ne-t ten &inutes e!er(thing was #n*usin) The #hil,
dren were running as *ast as the( #uld+ %ut 7athan did nt
dare t d li'ewise) He was t *ar %ehind the&+ and that $ut
hi& *ar t #lse t the gun&en wh had gne a*ter the&) He
had t &a'e &re #are*ul $rgress+ ta'ing whate!er $re#au,
tins he #uld+ s he sta(ed #lse t the tree,trun's whene!er
he #uld+ in s$ite * the thrns that were alwa(s rea#hing ut
t s#rat#h his *a#e and ar&s)
Un*rtunatel(+ the *ire see&ed t %e tra!elling al&st as *ast
as he was) He #uld hear its aw*ul #la&ur %ehind hi&+ and
the $ungent dur * s&'e 'e$t getting wrse and wrse)
He heard the sldiers %e*re he saw the&+ and what he heard
was the wrd4 /N0/
The sund was *ar t #lse *r #&*rt+ and he dr$$ed t
a #ru#h %ehind an unusuall( s2uat %ush %e*re &aneu!ring
hi&sel* int a $sitin *r& whi#h he #uld see the s$ea'er
and the #&$anin t wh& the s$ea'er had s$'en)
One * the sldiers+ wh was %leeding $r*usel( *r& a #ut
in his shulder at right,angles t the #llar,%ne+ was stand,
ing !er Pater Saltana+ wh was #ru#hed n the grund with
his ar&s $rte#ti!el( wra$$ed arund Hul&e) It see&ed
that the sldier had %een a%ut t dash ut the $riest/s %rains
with the %utt * his wea$n+ until he had %een rdered t
desist)
7athan was glad t nte that the ther tr$er als see&ed
t ha!e %een #ut+ i* nl( su$er*i#iall( , his #hee' had %een
slashed %( a thrust that &ust ha!e %een less than a *inger/s,
%readth awa( *r& ta'ing ut his e(e)
Ta'e hi& ali!e0/ said the &an with the #ut #hee'+ althugh
he did nt see& #ertain * his wn instru#tin) /Can/t (u see
that he/s s&e 'ind * $riest6 L' at his *a#e+ i* his #stu&e
desn/t tell (u) We &ight need the in*r&atin he #an gi!e
us)/
/What *r6/ de&anded the ther) /I* he/s a sr#erer+ all the
&re reasn t 'ill the hereti# s#u&0/
7athan realised that the se#nd &an/s !i#e was taut with
an-iet(+ and that the reasn the *irst had la#'ed #n!i#tin as
t the reasna%leness * his wn argu&ent was that he was
a*raid4 a*raid * Pater Saltana0 7athan had %een a*raid * Pater
Saltana hi&sel*+ %ut nl( in the wa( that an( #hild &ight %e
a*raid * his tea#her) These were strng &en , ruthless 'illers)
Wh( shuld the( l' at an ld &an with su#h hrrr and
tre$idatin6
7athan thught again a%ut the e**e#t that H(#illa had
%egun t ha!e n $e$le wh did nt 'nw her as well as he
did) Was it $ssi%le+ he wndered+ that lng *a&iliarit( had
ta&ed his awe * Pater Saltana+ &a'ing it see& less &inus
than it reall( was6
/7n/t %e stu$id+/ the *irst sldier said+ althugh there was
still a &ani*est unease in his tne) /We need l#al 'nwledge i*
we/re t esta%lish a su$$l(,$int here+ and the rest * these stu,
$id $easants $r%a%l( dn/t 'nw whi#h wa(/s u$) We need
e!er(thing he has in his head+ and we need t tease it ut !er(
tenderl() We ha!e t deli!er hi& t the in2uisitrs)/
7athan t' the re&ar' a%ut /stu$id $easants/ !er( $ersn,
all() He had heard enugh * twn li*e t 'nw that his $e$le
were $r+ and he had heard $assing &er#hants s$ea' #nde,
s#endingl( * the ignran#e * thse wh had ne!er seen what
la( %e(nd the hri1n+ %ut he was nt stu$id) The !illage had
its #ra*ts&en+ wh were legiti&atel( $rud * the 2ualit( *
their wr'+ and e!en its $lugh&en and li!est#',tenders 'new
&re than the $arti#ular se#rets * their wr' and wrshi$)
What a%ut the #hild6/ as'ed the &an with the %leeding
shulder+ althugh he &ust ha!e 'nwn the answer)
That we dn/t need)/
The sldier with the wunded shulder had alread( rea#hed
ut t (an' Hui&e ut * Saltana/s $rte#ti!e gras$) Saltana
wuld nt gi!e hi& u$+ %ut when the se#nd &an .ined in+
the $riest #uld nt hld n)
The &an with the slashed #hee' t' Hui&e *r& his #&$anin+ held hi& %( his an'les and
swung the #hild/s head against the %ar' * a tree+ s *r#e*ull( that his ne#' sna$$ed)
7athan heard the hrri%le #ra#' 2uite #learl( in s$ite * the %a#'grund rar)
/Shit and #rru$tin0/ said the &an with the wunded shulder+ #linging hard t Pater Saltana/s
li&$ %d() /It/s nt ging t %e eas( getting ut * here+ e!en withut this 'ind * %urden)/
/Gi!e hi& t &e+/ the ther #&&anded) /9u lead the wa()
:ust &a'e sure (u dn/t ta'e us int an( &re a&%ushes ,
and i* (u ha!e t sht again+ tr( nt t de!astate the entire
lands#a$e) That wa(+ i* we steer arund the *ire+ we/ll get %a#'
t the !illage easil( enugh)/
The &an with the %leeding shulder didn/t wait %e*re setting **+ althugh he did sa( What
a%ut the thers6/ as he &ar#hed **)
The(/re .ust %rats) We #an tid( the& u$ later+ i* need %e) In
all $r%a%ilit(+ the *ire will ta'e #are * &st * the&+ and thirst
and hunger will d *r the rest) This is the ne we need+ *r
nw) With lu#'+ we/ll ha!e a *ew thers+ s there/s a #u$le t
s$are when the 2uestining starts) And the w&en+ * #urse)/
B( the ti&e this last senten#e was #&$leted the tw sldiers
had $assed ut * 7athan/s sight)
I* he had had a wea$n+ * an( srt+ 7athan &ight ha!e *l,
lwed the&) As it was+ he had enugh sense t let the& g) He
went t stand !er Hul&e/s %r'en %d(+ *eeling an i&$tent
rage &re terri%le than an( e&tin that had e!er $ssessed
hi&)
He didn/t nti#e H(#illa #&ing u$ %ehind hi& until she
tu#hed his shulder) Then he whirled a%ut+ wishing that it
&ight %e an ene&( , al%eit an ene&( that he was #a$a%le *
*ighting)
When he saw that she was nt+ he lwered his hands+ %ut his
*ists were still #len#hed+ the nails digging int his $al&s) He
shuddered+ %ut it was nt %e#ause H(#illa/s $resen#e was dis,
tur%ing , r s he tld hi&sel*)
/We ha!e t g+/ H(dlla said) /We ha!e t g as *ar and as *ast
as we #an , t El!enr+ i* we #an *ind the wa() We ha!e t tell
s&ene wh #an get a &essage t Ga!aln that the I&$eriu&
is esta%lishing a su$$l(,%ase here) It &ight %e i&$rtant)/
We ne!er had a #han#e+/ 7athan whis$ered) /Nne * us)
Rel*+ Pa!t+ Pater Saltana , we/re all as hel$less as Hui&e+ .ust
things t %e destr(ed+ r trtured+ r,/
H(#illa gra%%ed his ar&s and $ulled hi&)
/I* we dn/t g+/ she said+ /we/ll %e &eat) C'ed &eat) C&e
n0/
7athan 'new that she was right) E!en s+ she had t lead hi&
awa(+ and he did nt %egin t run until she *r#ed hi&)
FOUR
ORLOC 8ELCARTH STOO7 n the %al#n( * the G!ernr/s
A$art&ent in the I&$eriu& Twer+ l'ing ut !er the #it( *
Sstenut+ #a$ital * the Ci!ili1atin * 5ala1endra) The news+
rela(ed *r& lerius Ful%ra %( a #hain * !- statins s$anning
hal* a wrld+ was gd)
Ful%ra/s &ain *r#es had s'irted the A&%er Waste t the
nrth and suth+ and his wn #&$an( was nw &a'ing ra$id
headwa( int Gul1a#andra) The in!aders had &et n signi*i,
#ant $$sitin+ and Ful%ra/s ar&ured #r$s had %een a%le t
%last its wa( thrugh the &a'eshi*t %arriers that had %een set
u$ t i&$ede its $rgress) Ful%ra had le*t his slwer,&!ing
#a!alr( and l-dnts *ar %ehind+ althugh the( wuld ha!e a
great deal * !alua%le wr' t d in tid(ing u$ a*ter hi& and
&a'ing sure that the su$$l(,rutes a#rss 9e!el'ana were $r$,
erl( &aintained)
In the &eanti&e+ Ful%ra had sent a s&aller #ntingent *
tru#'s ra#ing straight a#rss the Waste+ with a !iew t esta%,
lishing a su$$l(,%ase at an insigni*i#ant !illage identi*ied n
the &a$s as Odienne) 8el#arth 'new that the de#isin t d s
had %een en#uraged %( Ragan Bal%erith+ whse $s('ers had
allegedl( dete#ted signs * tru%le %rewing in the wasteland
west * the !illage+ %ut that was a $ett( ann(an#e) I* Bal%erith
wanted Ful%ra t &unt an e-$lratr( /O$eratin Pr%e/+ he
&ight as well ha!e his wa( , it &ight 'ee$ his &ind ** &re
$r%le&ati# &atters)
The #ultists/ *r#es+ whi#h see&ed t ha!e %een gi!en n use,
*ul *rewarning %( &agi#al &eans+ were re$rted t %e
gathering tgether+ althugh Ful%ra had nt &anaged t *ind
ut where+ r what their $lan * #a&$aign was li'el( t %e)
8el#arth #uld nt see that it &attered &u#h) Ful%ra wuld %e
n the& sn enugh+ and e!en i* the( had #ntri!ed t
&uster ten thusand *ighters the( wuld %e #rushed) 8an( *
the& wuld %e unintelligent and $rl(,ar&ed %east&en3
e!en the hu&an #ns#ri$ts wuld %e $atheti#all( ill,e2ui$$ed)
E!er(thing was ging t $lan , and nt .ust t Ful%ra/s $lan+
%ut t his)
Within a &atter * wee's he+ Orl# 8el#arth+ wuld %e the
ruler * the wrld4 the e&$err * the wrld+ in all %ut na&e)
Sstenut wuld %e the #a$ital #it( * an I&$eriu& that
e&%ra#ed the whle wrld+ n whi#h the sun ne!er set+ and he
wuld %e a%le t ride thrugh it in triu&$h+ #ele%rating his
as#ensin t a%slute $wer+ with Ful%ra at his side) He had an
air#ra*t standing read(+ *irst t #arr( hi& t the %attle*ield ,
n#e the #ru#ial !i#tr( had %een well and trul( wn , and
then t %ring hi& %a#' with the general %( his side+ t esta%,
lish hi& in the &ind * e!er( &an in 5ala1endra as a her in
his wn right+ and a great leader)
On#e Gul1a#andra was $urged+ 8el#arth %elie!ed+ the *ugi,
ti!e #!ens * Bul1a!ara+ "enda&ra and 9e!el'ana wuld %e
islated and unsu$$rted+ eas( targets *r Ragan Bal%erith/s
agents and hirelings , r+ &re li'el( the agents and hirelings
* the &re reasna%le &an wh wuld $resentl( %e re$la#ing
Ragan Bal%erith in the $sitin * Chie* In2uisitr)
8el#arth wndered+ %rie*l(+ whether the title * Chie*
In2uisitr #uld %e dis#arded alng with its ##u$ant) Perha$s
the ntin * a /Chie* In2uisitr/ had t &u#h * the True
I&$eriu& wra$$ed u$ in it) Perha$s it de&anded , and+ alas+
#&&anded , rather t &u#h res$e#t) The #ultists had t %e
hunted dwn+ * #urse+ and 'illed) The( were t !ile t li!e+
and their &agi# $sed a threat t the wrldl( I&$eriu& ,
8el#arth/s I&$eriu& , %ut the &e&r( and &ethds * the
True I&$eriu& were a little t #are*ull( $reser!ed %(
Bal%erith/s In2uisitin) Perha$s it was high ti&e *r the entire
institutin t %e re$la#ed %( s&ething &re suited t l#al
#ir#u&stan#es) The wa( wuld then %e #lear *r Orl# 8el#arth
t %e e&$err in na&e as well as in realit()
It was nt the *a#t that he had nt (et #n2uered
Gul1a#andra that had $re!ented 8el#arth *r& #lai&ing that
title %e*re+ %ut rather that it wuld ha!e #aused su#h **en#e
t the inner #ir#le * Bal%erith/s in2uisitrs+ their agents and
their allies) Gi!en the wa( in2uisitrs wr'ed+ 8el#arth #uld
nt %e entirel( #ertain hw wide that #ir#le was , althugh he
was 2uite sure that its &e&%ers wuld #ertainl( regard his use
* the title as a usur$atin and a %las$he&(+ i* he did nt han,
dle the &atter with the ut&st deli#a#() E!en Bal%erith was
$re$ared t tlerate the *a#t that the a%rigines had %een
en#uraged t #all the $liti#al institutins and ar&ed *r#es at
his dis$sal /the I&$eriu&/+ %ut that was %e#ause he still #n,
sidered the wrldl( I&$eriu& t %e nthing &re than a
hu&%le instru&ent and re$resentati!e * a &u#h grander
I&$eriu&4 an I&$eriu& that s$anned the stars) That I&$eriu&
was+ hwe!er , at least in Orl# 8el#arth/s $inin , nthing
&re than a distant &e&r(+ 2uite irrele!ant t the wrld as he
'new it)
Bal%erith alwa(s insisted n re*erring t the wrld as
Sig&atus+ %ut 8el#arth $re*erred t thin' * it si&$l( as the
wrld , r+ e!en &re $leasantl(+ as his wrld) He was alread(
the e**e#ti!e !erlrd * *ur,*i*ths * its land sur*a#e+ and the
#n2uest * Gul1a#andra wuld deli!er the greater $art * the
re&ainder) The rest , #nsisting * islands #!ered %( i&$ene,
tra%le .ungles+ i#e r !l#ani# ash , was nt wrth ha!ing+ e!en
thugh a *ew * the islands in the suthern sea were inha%ited)
A%rigines were ha$$( enugh t s#rat#h ut a li!ing an(,
where)
In the distan#e+ as he l'ed t the west+ 8el#arth #uld see
the shell * ne * the shi$s that had %rught his an#estrs t
Sig&atus) The *ur that had %een stranded when the stars %egan
t shi*t again , r when the war$str&s * the E(e * Terrr
e-tended their uter *ringes t e&%ra#e it again+ as Bal%erith
insisted n $utting it , re&ained n dis$la( utside the *ur
gates * the #it(+ t re&ind e!er(ne wh $assed thrugh thse
gates * the $rud heritage * their rulers) The( were $tent
s(&%ls * the awes&e $wer that e-isted utside the wrld+

in the great wilderness * the uni!erse , %ut Orl# 8d#arth was
a deter&ined realist+ wh 'new that s(&%ls were nl(
s(&%ls+ and that real $wer had t %e e-er#ised within the
wrld+ with an i&&edia#( that had t %e %!ius t an(ne
wh e!er thught t resist it) On#e the In2uisitin had %een
re*r&ed+ redesigned in a &re su%ser!ient rle+ it wuld %e
ti&e t %egin dis&antling the hulls * the shi$s+ re#lai&ing the
!alua%le &etals %und u$ therein) It wuld %e eas( enugh t
turn the s(&%ls int s#ra$+ and n#e that was dne the
&e&r( * the True I&$eriu& wuld #ntinue t *ade+ until it
*inall( %e#a&e n &re than a &(th)
The Chie* In2uisitr is here+ e-#ellen#(+/ a !i#e &ur&ured
*r& the r& %ehind hi&) /He desires))))/
/I 'nw what he desires+/ 8el#arth said+ #asuall( interru$ting
the guards&an) /Please as' hi& t .in &e)/
He li'ed entertaining Bal%erith n his %al#n(+ %e#ause
Bal%erith was slightl( a#r$h%i#) Heights &ade hi& ner!us+
and ner!usness $ut $ressure n hi& t #ut his inter*eren#e
shrt) Un*rtunatel(+ de!tin t i&agined dut( $ut $ressure
n hi& t+ and that alwa(s en#uraged hi& t e-tend his
inter*eren#e t the li&it)
And that+ n du%t+ was wh( Ragan Bal%erith ste$$ed ut
%ldl( nt the high %al#n( !erl'ing the #a$ital #it(+
des$ite the 2ui!er * !ertig that &ust ha!e run *r& head t
te as he did s) His %d(guards re&ained dis#reetl( inside)
Under the ga1e * Bal%erith/s angr( e(es+ 8el#arth had t
re&ind hi&sel* that the title * Chie* In2uisitr was &erel( an
e#h *s&euung at %est hal*,re&e&%ered+ an i&itatin * a
!er( distant riginal) 7u%tless there had n#e %een real
in2uisitrs , &en * authenti# $wer and san#tit( , %ut here in
the real wrld there were nl( &en wh $retended t %e
in2uisitrs4 &en wh &erel( $la(ed at %eing in2uisitrs+ n
&atter hw eager the( &ight %e t rt ut #rru$tin+ nr
hw e**i#ient the( &ight %e in slaughtering the su$$sedl(,#r,
ru$t)
The news is e-#ellent0/ 8el#arth said+ %e*re the ther &an
had ti&e t s$ea') /Our $lans are $r#eeding e-a#tl( as the(
shuld , all $raise t the E&$err 8agni*i#ent)/
/All $raise t the E&$err 8agni*i#ent+/ Bal%erith e#hed+
duti*ull( , althugh his *lashing e(es de#lared his awareness
that 8el#arth/s use * the *r&ula was t'enisti#) /I a& tld
that General Ful%ra has as'ed *r the air#ra*t) He needs it *r
re#nnaissan#e+ t e-a&ine the ene&(/s dis$sitin , %ut it is
still in 5ala1endra)/
Bal%erith had drawn hi&sel* u$ t his *ull height as he
s$'e+ tr(ing t &a'e the &st * the ne,in#h ad!antage he
had !er the g!ernr) 8el#arth %ser!ed that the in2uisitr
had e!en #&%ed his hair in su#h a wa( as t &a'e it stand u$+
tr(ing t gain an e-tra 2uarter,in#h that wa( , %ut the g!ernr
was nt a &an t %e inti&idated %( an a##ident * stature) In
an( #ase+ the in2uisitr/s as#eti# ha%its ensured that he #uld
nt get the *ull %ene*it * his e-er#ise regi&e+ and 8el#arth/s
&us#les were &u#h &re slid)
/General Ful%ra alwa(s has a tenden#( t !eresti&ate his
needs+/ 8el#arth said+ s&thl() /Sldiers rarel( see !er( *ar
%e(nd the ne-t %attle+ and ne!er see %e(nd a war/s end)/
/But (u/!e ta'en ela%rate ste$s t ensure that the #hain *
re*uelling statins is inta#t+ and Ful%ra/s engineers are under
rders t #lear landing,stri$s where!er the( &a'e #a&$+ in
rder that the air#ra*t #an alwa(s get t the& within twel!e
hurs+/ Bal%erith #&$lained) /Wh( d that+ i* the air#ra*t is nt
t %e $la#ed at the general/s dis$sal6/
8el#arth wndered whether Bal%erith &ight ha!e guessed
the real reasn *r the #are*ul $re$aratins he had listed ,
whi#h was+ * #urse+ t allw Orl# 8el#arth t #lai& the
*ullest $ssi%le share * Ful%ra/s triu&$h) It did nt see& t
&atter+ either wa(4 8el#arth was the nl( &an wh #uld rder
it t ta'e **) The air#ra*t was the &st $tent e-a&$le *
Original Te#hnlg( le*t t the I&$eriu& * 5ala1endra+ and
8el#arth had alwa(s %een #are*ul t reser!e its use entirel( t
hi&sel*)
The air#ra*t is t $re#ius a resur#e t waste in &ere
re#nnaissan#e+/ 8el#arth tld the in2uisitr) /I* it were a &at,
ter * li*e and death+ * #urse))) %ut it is nt) Our te#h,$riests
ha!e had t wr' !irtual &ira#les t &aintain the #ra*t/s air,
wrthiness+ gi!en the dearth * nati!e resur#es+ and we we it
t their l(alt( and de!tin nt t s2uander the rewards *
their endea!urs)/
That was the wa( 8el#arth had t tal' t Bal%erith4 it was the
'ind * language the in2uisitr understd) 8el#arth
understd that 5ala1endra/s s,#alled te#h,$riests were &ere
tin'erers+ whse *re%ears had re&e&%ered the $ra(ers and
rituals ass#iated with the use * wea$ns *ar %etter than the(
had re&e&%ered the &anu*a#turing s'ills ne#essar( t
re$rdu#e and &aintain the&+ %ut Bal%erith saw things
di**erentl()
/I dn/t thin' (u *ull( realise+ e-#ellen#(+ what 'ind **erees
General Ful%ra &ight %e u$ against+/ Bal%erith said) This is the
#ultists/ last stand+ and the #!en,&asters &ust ha!e 'e$t a *ew
* their %est tri#'s in reser!e) Our *r#es are a lng wa( *r&
h&e+ and it will %e i&$ssi%le t rein*r#e the& i* the( get
int serius di**i#ulties) Wrse than that , i* the( shuld get
int di**i#ulties it wuld undu%tedl( a**e#t the &rale * ur
tr$s in the ther #n2uered territries) The #ultists &a( ha!e
%een dri!en undergrund in the su%.e#t states+ %ut the( are nt
e-tin#t e!en here) Crru$tin is *ar &re wides$read than (u
see& t %elie!e+ and the threat it $ses *ar &re insidius) I*
ur #&&uni#atin,lin's were t %e wea'ened)))/
/But the( aren/t %eing wea'ened+ Ragan+/ 8el#arth $inted
ut+ stressing the na&e %e#ause he 'new hw &u#h Bal%erith
hated t %e addressed in that &anner rather than his title+ es$e,
#iall( %( ne wh had the ntinal right t d it) /Radi
re#e$tin has ne!er %een %etter , e!er( &essage #&es thrugh
as #lear as a %ell+ n &atter hw &an( rela( statins are
in!l!ed) I&agine what it wuld ha!e %een li'e ten (ears ag0/
That/s %e#ause the war$str& a$$ears t %e a%ating+/
Bal%erith said) /But it/s s&ething !er whi#h we ha!e nt the
slightest #ntrl) The ene&()))/
/Ha!e n &re #ntrl than we ha!e+ *r all that the( ha!e
%een tainted %( the war$ the&sel!es) In an( #ase+ (u/!e %een
e-#eedingl( enthusiasti# t see the stars stand still *r as lng as
I/!e 'nwn (u) Surel( (u/re delighted that the war$str&
see&s t %e a%ating)/
/I* it allws us t re,esta%lish #nta#t with the I&$eriu&+ it
will %e the &st *rtunate thing that has ha$$ened n
Sig&atus *r tw hundred (ears+ %ut)))/
/Wuld that %e l#al (ears+/ 8el#arth $ut in &is#hie!usl(+ /r
I&$erial (ears6/
The (ear de*ined %( Sig&atus/s r%it arund its sun and the
da( de*ined %( its wn rtatin , the real (ear and the real da(+
as 8el#arth thught * the& , were %th a little lnger than
the /(ear/ and the /da(/ that had %een %uilt int the ti&e,#al#u,
latins * his an#estrs+ whi#h Bal%erith still insisted n using
in assertins a%ut the su$$sed anti2uit( * what he thught
* as the real I&$eriu&)
/It desn/t &atter> Bal%erith said) /I* we #an re,esta%lish #nta#t with the I&$eriu& , as e!er(ne
shuld de!utl( desire , then General Ful%ra/s e-$lits will %e#&e irrele!ant) The
Ade$tus Terra will send &re shi$s+ and the( will de#ide what
needs t %e dne a%ut the taint * the war$ that a**e#ts
Sig&atus) I* the( de#ide that the $lanet #an %e sa*el( $urged+
and that its resur#es &ight then %e use*ul t the I&$eriu&+
the( will du%tless ha!e the &en and the tls t d the .%) I*
the war$str& re#!ers its !igur+ n the ther hand+ it will %e
u$ t us t $$se the *r#es * Chas with all ur &ight) We
&ust #nsider the $ssi%ilit( that the tide &a( turn against us+
and $re$are as %est we #an *r that #ntingen#()/
/Whether the stars will e!er stand still again r nt+/ 8el#arth
tld hi&+ wearil(+ /we &ust $re$are *r the #ntingen#( that we
and ur #hildren and ur #hildren/s #hildren will ha!e t rule
this wrld *r #enturies+ i* nt &illennia) The wea$ns and
e2ui$&ent that ur an#estrs %rught t this wrld are a !er(
$re#ius resur#e that &ust %e #nser!ed) We ha!e #ntri!ed t
&anu*a#ture tru#'s * ur wn+ and guns * ur wn+ %ut an(,
ne wh has e!er used the& 'nws hw $ri&iti!e the( are %(
#&$arisn with thse ur an#estrs %rught with the&)
Clearl(+ ur te#h,$riests , gd and wrshi$*ul &en thugh
the( are , ha!e nl( #ntri!ed t retain a *ew * the rituals and
$ra(ers that the &anu*a#turers * the True I&$eriu& 'nw) O*
#urse General Ful%ra wants &e t gi!e hi& &re and %etter
guns+ &re and %etter a&&unitin+ &re and %etter !ehi#les
and the use * ur ne and nl( air#ra*t) He/s a general+ and he
hates t thin' that an(thing he &ight use shuld %e 'e$t in
reser!e *r *uture #ntingen#ies , %ut (u and I &ust a#'nwl,
edge a higher dut(+ &ust we nt6/
Bal%erith s#wled at that+ 'nwing that he was %eing
&#'ed) 8el#arth 'new *ull well that the Chie* In2uisitr t'
the $ra(ers and rituals * the s,#alled te#h,$riests entirel( seri,
usl( , as did the great &a.rit( * the te#h,$riests+ whse
status de$ended n the &(sti*i#atin * their wr')
/I %elie!e that (u &ight %e underesti&ating the ene&(+
e-#ellen#(+/ Bal%erith said+ dggedl() /8( $s('ers,/
9u ha!e nt an at& * e!iden#e *r sa(ing s+/ 8el#arth
inter.e#ted+ #asuall( leaning %a#' n the %al#n(+ re!elling in
his wn la#' * an-iet() @9ur in2uisitrs ha!e dne a &agni*i#ent .% * su$$ressing the agents
* Chas in 5ala1endra and the su%.e#t #i!ili1atins) At e!er( .un#ture+ the &agi# * these
s,#alled sr#erers has %een de*eated) We ha!e su**ered lsses+
* #urse+ %ut the( ha!e alwa(s %een a##e$ta%le lsses) I* there
reall( is s&ething %rewing in the wastelands west * the
A&%er Waste , in additin+ * #urse+ t the gathering * a
ragged ar&( , then O$eratin Pr%e will tell Ful%ra what it is+
and Ful%ra will deal with it)/
/It &a( nt %e s si&$le) 8( $s('ers,/
/Are as #ra1ed as their #unter$arts n the ther side+ es$e,
#iall( sin#e (u/!e ta'en t dsing the& with the sa&e drugs)
9u wrr( t &u#h+ Ragan) We ha!e alwa(s generated resent,
&ent %( the harshness with whi#h we ha!e $$sed the #ults ,
althugh I #annt $retend t understand wh( the a%rigines
*eel s strngl( a%ut the #hildren we $ut dwn when the(
see& 2uite %li!ius * all thse &urdered %( their wn wi1,
ards r &arred %( their !ile gds , %ut we alwa(s withstd
their atte&$ts t ta'e !engean#e+ &aterial and &agi#al) Histr(
is n ur side+ as it #ertainl( shuld %e+ gi!en that urs is the
side * right and .usti#e+ the side * the I&$eriu&) We shall win
this war+ and win it glriusl()/
/I* we had &re histr( we &ight %e %etter ser!ed+/ Bal%erith
retrted+ resent*ull() His e(es were *luttering *r& side t side
nw+ as the &ere #ns#iusness *8el#arth/s $sitin %egan t
e-#ite his !ertiginus i&aginatin) The $r%le& is that it is nt
&erel( the riginal arte*a#ts that ha!e %een a wasting asset
these last tw hundred (ears) The 'nwledge and wisd& that
ur an#estrs %rught t this wrld was %ut a *ra#tin * the
wisd& and 'nwledge * the I&$eriu&) The( did nt e-$e#t
t %e stranded here+ and did nt #&e $re$ared t %e #lnists)
N du%t their e**rts were heri#+ and the( &ust ha!e dne
e!er(thing the( #uld t tell their #hildren e!er(thing the(
wuld need t 'nw t *ight the Eternal Ene&( e!en n its wn
grund , %ut we d nt 'nw hw &u#h we d nt 'nw) We
d nt 'nw what tri#'s this s,#alled Ca!aln the Great &ight
ha!e u$ his slee!e)/
8el#arth sighed) It was all true+ * #urse+ %ut it was all
irrele!ant) N ne #uld $re$are *r the un*reseea%le4 n
general3 n in2uisitr3 n g!ernr3 n e&$err+ e!en * the
uni!erse) /We #an nl( a#t n what we d 'nw+/ he said) /9es+
it is $ssi%le that all the de*eats ur ene&ies ha!e s *ar
su**ered were a##e$ted in rder t lull us int a *alse sense *
se#urit() 9es+ it is $ssi%le that the last sr#erer we ha!e t
dis$at#h reall( is &re $wer*ul than all the rest) It is e!en
$ssi%le that he has the $wer t &!e the stars r &a'e their
*ire rain dwn u$n this &isera%le wrld+ turning e!er( w&%,
held e&%r( int a ra!ening &nster that will eat its &ther
ali!e) But all ur e-$erien#e tells us that we are the strng nes4
the nes with the $wer t rule this wrld) We ha!e the
strength * will and $ur$se t e-ter&inate all the residual
stains * e!il that are gathering tgether e!en nw in their last
wilderness redu%t) Ful%ra des nt need &( air#ra*t (et)/
/9ur air#ra*t6/ Bal%erith was 2ui#' t $un#e in the sli$ *
the tngue+ %ut the Chie* In2uisitr/s ner!es were at *ull stret#h
nw) There was #ld sweat n his %rw) He was edging %a#'
int the drwa(+ in s$ite * the *a#t that he #uld nt #n*rnt
the g!ernr *r& that $sitin while 8el#arth insisted n
standing sidewa(s at his %al#n(+ leaning ut int e&$t( s$a#e)
8el#arth de#ided that it was ti&e t s#re a $int+ t #n,
tinue the arduus $r#ess * se#uring his $s(#hlgi#al
as#endan#( !er his nl( $ssi%le ri!al *r authrit( !er the
wrld) /9es+/ he said) /8( air#ra*t) I a& the g!ernr+ a*ter all+
sle heir t the authrit( * the First G!ernr+ the star,%rn)
9u are the Chie* In2uisitr+ and the instru&ents * the
In2uisitin are (urs) I &a'e n #lai& u$n the& and wuld
nt drea& * instru#ting (u in the deli#ate arts * trture and
the ar#ane &(steries * $riestl( &agi#) But I a& the g!ernr+
and the a$$aratus * g!ern&ent is &ine) The air#ra*t is &ine)/
/Perha$s+/ Bal%erith said+ thrugh gritted teeth+ (u thin' the
whle wrld is (urs+ sa!e *r the &nstrus &ani*estatins *
Chas that I &ust dis$se * *r (u)/
Perha$s0 8el#arth e#hed+ in the $ri!a#( * his wn thughts)
The &an has 'nwn &e all &( li*e+ and has wr'ed alngside
&e *r &re than twent( (ears+ and still he thin's that $erha$s
I thin' the whle wrld is &ine) S great is his re!eren#e *r the
I&$eriu& * the stars , the I&$eriu& *r& whi#h we ha!e nt
heard a whis$er sin#e &( great,great,grand*ather was %rn ,
that he #an %arel( i&agine the te&erit( * a &ind that #uld
lea!e it ut * its #al#ulatins * a&%itin)
Alud+ he said4 We are hu&an+ Ragan+ and $art * the
I&$eriu& * 8an'ind) E!en the a%rigines+ wh were here
%e*re the I&$eriu& e-isted+ are hu&ans * a srt+ hwe!er
&isera%le that srt &a( %e , and that &eans that the( t are
$art * the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind+ e!en thugh the( d nt
'nw it and are direl( relu#tant t %e $ersuaded) It is ur dut(
t sa!e the& *r& their ignran#e+ and t raise the& t the
sa&e le!el * awareness * !irtue+ ne#essit( and l!e * the
E&$err that we $ssess) Whate!er I &ust d t se#ure that
ai&+ I will d+ and I e-$e#t n less * (u)/
Bal%erith had t 'nw that 8el#arth was insin#ere+ %ut the
g!ernr 'new that the Chie* In2uisitr did nt ha!e the
strength * will t 2ui%%le !er su#h su%tleties in a situatin
li'e this) Bal%erith #ntinued %a#'ing awa( int the r&+
&a'ing strangled nises that were $resu&a%l( su$$sed t
indi#ate relu#tant agree&ent with e!er(thing the g!ernr had
said)
I* I ha!e t li!e n this da&ned %al#n( till the #a&$aign is
!er+ 8el#arth thught+ I/ll d it) I/& t #lse nw t let
Bal%erith get in &( wa( , and n#e this *a&us sr#erer is as
dead as all the rest+ the In2uisitin will ha!e lst its &st $re,
#ius asset) With n %ug%ears l&ing !er the&+ the ran' and
*ile will sn lse all res$e#t *r thse wh $retend t %e ur
last and %est $rte#tin against destru#tin %( the *r#es *
e!il)
It was a #&*rting thught)
When Bal%erith and his %d(guards were sa*el( ut * the
wa(+ Orl# 8el#arth #ndes#ended t return t his des' and sit
dwn+ read( t re#ei!e &re %se2uius !isitrs , r+ i* nne
#a&e+ t attend t the rutine %usiness * g!ern&ent)
There was alwa(s rutine %usiness4 $a$ers t read+ %udgets t
a$$r!e+ and rders t sign) It was e!en &re dangerus t del,
egate t &u#h than t delegate t little) A ruler had t %e
seen t rule+ es$e#iall( %( his i&&ediate su%rdinates) I* an(
ne * thse su%rdinates e!er gt the idea that he #uld d
the .% as easil( as his &aster+ he wuld i&&ediatel( #ease t
%e a su%rdinate and wuld %e#&e a threat instead) A gd
ruler had t %e alwa(s %us(+ alwa(s attenti!e+ alwa(s interested+
alwa(s n t$)
And while there was nl( ne riginal air#ra*t in the wrld+
it had t %e his)
Within thirt( &inutes * his sitting dwn+ hwe!er , l#al
&inutes+ nt I&$erial nes , 8el#arth was interru$ted %(
5er*r+ ne * his %est s$ies+ %earing an urgent &essage) It
reall( was an urgent &essage+ t+ unli'e &an( * thse his
s$ies %rught hi& ut * an-iet( that the( &ight %e thught t
%e *alling dwn n the .%)
/One * Bal%erith/s $s('ers #lai&s t ha!e &ade #nta#t with
an I&$erial war*leet+/ 5er*r re$rted) /Bal%erith will ha!e the
news %( the da(/s end)/
/What 'ind * #nta#t6/ 8el#arth wanted t 'nw)
/Onl( drea&ing+ s *ar+/ the s$( tld hi&)
The /s *ar/ was $r%a%l( an atte&$t t e-aggerate the i&$r,
tan#e * the news+ %ut 8el#arth wasn/t su#h a *l as t ignre
its i&$li#atin) Bal%erith/s $s('ers were $ti&ists * e-a#tl( the
sa&e stri$e as the Chie* In2uisitr+ and their $ti&is& was
alwa(s $rne t $llute their drea&s) It wuldn/t %e the *irst
ti&e that a $s('er had thught that he had sensed the nearness
* I&$erial *r#es when he had nl( %een drea&ing h$e,
*ull() )) %ut radi re#e$tin was #&ing in as #lear as a %ell+ and
the stars see&ed t %e#&e 2uieter in the s'( with e!er( night
that $assed) I* the war$str& were t die dwn+ and Bal%erith/s
$s('ers were a#tuall( t %tain s&e authenti# tele$athi# intel,
ligen#e * the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind+ it &ight nl( %e a &atter
* ti&e %e*re the( gt a &essage ut))) and then e!er(thing
reall( &ight #hange)
/Well+/ said 8el#arth+ $ensi!el(+ /I su$$se e!er(ne is enti,
tled t a $leasant drea& nw and again) :ust 'ee$ (ur ear t
the grund+ *r nw , %ut i* the $s('er &a'es an( signi*i#ant
$rgress+ (u/d %etter &a'e sure that it #&es t an a%ru$t
st$)/
That wn/t %e eas(+/ 5er*r was 2ui#' t sa() /Bal%erith/s
rgani1atin is t tight) We dn/t ha!e read( a##ess t the #ells
, and an(ne wh %r'e #!er wuld ne!er get ut ali!e)/
The su%te-t * what the s$( was sa(ing was that he was the
nl( $ersn wh had a reasna%le #han#e t dis$se * the
in#n!enient $s('er+ %ut that he $r%a%l( wuldn/t get awa(
with it , and that his #a$ture wuld de$ri!e 8el#arth * his
&st use*ul $awn in Bal%erith/s #a&$) 8el#arth als had t
%ear in &ind the *a#t that 5er*r was terri*ied * $s('ers+ and
hated %eing an(where near the& e!en when rdered t 'ee$ an
e(e n the&) E!er(%d( hated $s('ers , e!en Bal%erith/s
$riestl( allies+ wh were %liged t 'ee$ the& #&$an( when
the( were e-er#ising their $wer)
/Arrange an a##ident+/ 8el#arth said+ #ldl() /9u/re an inge,
nius &an)/
There &ight %e a $ssi%ilit( * *d,$isning+/ the s$( sug,
gested+ tentati!el()
/Nt relia%le enugh+/ 8el#arth tld hi&) /What/s wrse+ it/s
said that $artial $isning s&eti&es sti&ulates $s('er
$wer) A %r'en ne#' wuld %e %etter) E!en $s('ers use the
stairs) I* he desn/t get a&%itius+ thugh+ (u #an lea!e hi&
alne) We &ight need Bal%erith/s $s('ers i* Ful%ra reall( des
run int tru%le ta'ing ut this s,#alled Ga!aln the Great ,
and i* he desn/t+ I dare sa( we/ll %e a%le *ind uses *r the&
n#e the In2uisitin has %een re*r&ed in the wa'e * the
Final =i#tr()/
5er*r s&iled+ %ut there was neither .( nr hu&ur in the
e-$ressin) /I dare sa( we shall+/ he said+ unenthusiasti#all() As
he gt u$ t g+ he added4 /All $raise t the E&$err
8agni*i#ent)/ He didn/t g s *ar as t win' his e(e+ %ut
8el#arth #aught the irn()
/All $raise t the E&$err 8agni*i#ent+/ the g!ernr e#hed+
duti*ull(+ /and death t all his ene&ies)/
The wrds sunded gd in the &uth * a realist+ he
thught) And i* all went well+ the( wuld sund e!en %etter in
ti&es t #&e)
FI=E
H9CILLA LE7 7ATHAN dire#tl( twards the setting sun+ whi#h
grew redder in #lur as it a$$ra#hed the *lat hri1n) It
see&ed t grw in si1e as it tu#hed the ri& * the $lain+ and
its *a#e was n lnger s %right that it was i&$ssi%le t l'
at it *r &re than a *ra#tin * a se#nd)
It was $ssi%le t see+ nw that the sun/s *a#e was neither
still nr *eatureless+ that the entire s$here was $er$etuall( tur,
%ulent+ seething li'e a #auldrn) As the #lur * the s'(
dar'ened *r& s*t !ilet t dee$ $ur$le it t %egan t re!eal
the &!e&ents that were rdinaril( #la'ed %( %rillian#e)
E!en thugh the stars had hardl( %egun t shine+ the s'(
%egan t shi&&er li'e the sur*a#e * an il( $l)
The entire, uni!erse was restless+ 7athan thught) That was
the truth * the &atter) It surel( #uld nt %e ali!e+ an( &re
than the wind,stirred air r the desert sands were ali!e+ %ut
neither was it 2uiet) It #uld n &re settle int silen#e and
stillness than a %a%( ra#'ed %( hunger and *ear) Perha$s the
stars the&sel!es had their hungers+ and the !id %etween
the& its *ears)
We shuld st$ t rest+/ he said t H(#illa+ when he saw that
she was utterl( e-hausted , %ut she wuld nt listen) The
strangeness that inti&idated $e$le had ta'en hld * her+
and e!en 7athan *elt unease stirring the de$ths * his %eing)
/I* we st$ here we/ll ne!er get u$ again+> H(#illa said+
%rus2uel() /We need t 'ee$ ging while the light lasts) We
need t rea#h El!enr+ i* we #an+ t *ind shelter , and i* we
#an/t+ we &ust *ind water)/
That was *ar &re easil( said than dne) The $lain was nt
a desert li'e the A&%er Waste4 grasses grew here in $r*usin+
and %ushes * &an( di**erent srts+ %ut the rain*all was s$,
radi# and this was the dr( seasn) There were herds * wild
hrses and $igs in the wastelands , althugh Pater Saltana had
tld the& that there had %een n su#h #reatures in the wrld
%e*re the *irst hu&ans #a&e , as well as gha1als and l-,
dnts+ %ut the( were *ew and *ar %etween) The !illage &en
*ten &unted hunting e-$editins in the autu&n+ and the
ga&e the( sught was .ust a%ut a%undant enugh t ensure
that the( rarel( #a&e h&e e&$t(,handed+ %ut as 7athan
s#anned the terrain laid ut %e*re hi& he #uld nt see a sin,
gle ani&al * an( 'ind) There &ust %e water,hles s&ewhere+
and #&&n sense suggested that the( ught t re!eal the&,
sel!es %( i&$arting a lusher #&$le-in t the surrunding
!egetatin+ %ut the $lain/s #lurs &ade a &#'er( * the
ther &eaning * the wrd /$lain/) The( were *ar t #n*using
t $er&it eas( dis#ri&inatin)
The *urther 7athan and H(#illa had #&e *r& the %urning
*rest+ the &re #n*using the $lant,li*e had %e#&e) The
*ields $lanted %( the !illagers were green+ and s were &st *
the $lants that grew wild in their !i#init() :ude(e trees , whi#h
had %een in the wrld lng %e*re the *irst hu&ans #a&e+ a
thusand generatins ag , were nt s !er( di**erent *r&
the trees that grew in the neigh%uring r#hards) 7athan
realised nw+ thugh+ that the !illage &ight ha!e %een %uilt
where it was $re#isel( %e#ause the l#atin see&ed un#&,
&nl( hs$ita%le+ and that the $lain a#rss whi#h he had
H(#illa were nw trudging was de!id * $er&anent hu&an
ha%itatin $re#isel( %e#ause it was nt) Here+ there was as
&u#h red and $ur$le *liage as green+ and a gd deal *
#hreus (ellw)
The *ruits n the %ushes , whi#h see&ed s te&$ting t
7athan+ %e#ause he was hungr( as well as des$eratel( thirst(+
e!en thugh the( were *ar $ast ri$eness and shri!elling n the
%ugh , were white and red and %la#' and glrius s'(,$ur,
$le) He had %een taught t a!id the&+ nt s &u#h %e#ause
al&st all * the& were %itter and a *ew *ran'l( $isnus+
%ut %e#ause hardl( an( * the& had &u#h nutritinal !alue t
hu&an %eings) S&e #autinar( *l'tales * his $e$le tld *
#hildren lst n the $lain wh *illed their st&a#hs ti&e and
ti&e again with te&$ting $rdu#e+ and star!ed t death e!en
with their %ellies #ra&&ed) Gha1als and l-dnts , nt t
&entin #untless s&aller #reatures , grew *it and *at n su#h
$rdu#e+ %ut the hrses and $igs that had es#a$ed hu&an #n,
trl in the distant $ast had t %e &re dis#ri&inating)
E!en s+ 7athan thught+ the *a#t that s&e ani&als #uld
li!e ut here $r!ed that hu&ans #uld t+ i* the( #uld nl(
de!el$ si&ilar $wers * dis#ri&inatin)
The &st stri'ing thing * all a%ut the !egetatin * the
$lain was nt s &u#h its #lur as its !ariet() It was nt
un#&&n t see %ushes whi#h su$$rted lea!es * a d1en
di**erent sha$es+ and *lwers * a d1en di**erent #n*r&a,
tins)
The #r$s the !illagers grew were stu%%rn in that regard3
ea#h ne #lung t a single %asi# $attern) With nl( a *ew
e-#e$tins+ the $lants that had de!el$ed here en.(ed a
re&ar'a%le *reed& * e-$ressin+ within and %etween gener,
atins) The( see&ed *ar &re sus#e$ti%le t disease+
de*r&atin and death+ %ut the( #&$ensated *r that sensi,
ti!it( with e-u%eran#e)
/We #uld $i#' *ruits and #rush the&+ then thrw awa( the
$ul$ and drin' the &isture+/ 7athan suggested+ as the last
thin sli#e * the sun/s dis' sli$$ed ut * sight and le*t the& t
twilight)
The western hri1n was *lat+ sa!e *r a ragged se&i#ir#ular
shadw .ust t the suth * the $int at whi#h the sun had
gne dwn) The sha$e was suggesti!e * an arti*i#ial stru#ture+
%ut there see&ed t %e !egetatin * s&e srt grwing n t$
* it+ s it was $r%a%l( .ust an ddl(,sha$ed hill)
We need water *ar $urer than that+/ H(#illa tld hi&+ a*ter a
*ew &&ents/ thught) /E!en i* there were n $isns dis,
sl!ed in it+ there/d %e ther su%stan#es+ whi#h ur %dies
wuld ha!e t e-#rete) It wuld %e li'e drin'ing seawater)/
7athan wndered hw she #uld $ssi%l( 'nw this) She
wasn/t tal'ing li'e a !illage #hild an( &re3 she was tal'ing li'e
s&ene C wh& se#rets had %een re!ealed %( s&e &(steri,
us inner $r#ess) Li'e 7athan+ H(dlla had ne!er seen the sea+
and $r%a%l( ne!er wuld+ s hw did she 'nw what drin',
ing seawater wuld %e li'e+ and wh( was she using a wrd li'e
e-#rete6 E!er(ne li'ed t hear stries * $ira#( and ad!entures
in *ar,*lung lands+ * #urse+ and * des$erate #astawa(s
&arned n desert isles+ %ut H(#illa see&ed t %e s$ea'ing
with an authrit( deri!ed *r& a !er( di**erent sur#e)
7athan was %eginning t understand wh( $e$le s&e,
ti&es t' a ste$ %a#' when H(#illa was li'e this , and he had
ne!er 'nwn her %e li'e this *r s lng) Wuld she e!er return
t her true sel*+ he wndered+ r had she %een #hanged *re!er
%( the arri!al * the I&$eriu&6
/We/ll ne!er *ind $ure water+/ 7athan said+ %lea'l() He
wished that he had nt %reathed in s &u#h s&'e when the
.ude(e *rest #aught *ire) Surel( he wuld nt *eel as thirst( as
he did i* his thrat had nt %een s#r#hed)
/9es we will+/ H(#illa tld hi&+ as she &ar#hed relentlessl(
twards the $la#e where the sun had disa$$eared)
What/s the $int+ an(wa(6/ 7athan de&anded) /E!er(ne
we e!er 'new is dead+ and ur h&e is gne) Where are we
ging6 Where is there t g6/
There/s an ar&( ut here s&ewhere+/ she tld hi&) /An
ar&( gathered t *ight the in!aders)/
/Pit( the( weren/t in the !illage+/ 7athan said+ harsel() The(
#uld ha!e *ught the& tda(+/
/I du%t that this was the nl( $la#e where the sldiers
#rssed the wastelands) 8st tra!ellers a!id the A&%er Waste)
E!en i* the( ha!e #a&ules+ the( usuall( g the lng wa( rund
t the nrth r the e!en lnger wa( t the suth) These &en
had tru#'s that #uld &!e &u#h *aster than a #a&ule train+
%ut we were unlu#'( e!en s)/
/Unlu#'(0 We/re su$$sed t %e the nes with &agi# n ur
side) We ha!e sr#erers and wise,drea&ers+ and the( dn/t)
Wh( weren/t we warned6/
It wasn/t intended t %e a $ersnal atta#'+ %ut H(#illa #uld
hardl( hel$ %ut ta'e it $ersnall() She was the !illage/s &st
*a!ured #hild+ said %( Pater Saltana t ha!e %een tu#hed %(
the true gd+
/I see s &u#h in &( drea&s+/ she said+ *latl(+ /%ut nne * it
#learl() E!en the greatest sr#erer in the wrld #an %e lst in
#n*usin+ r %etra(ed %( illusin)/ 7athan 'new that she was
2uting Pater Saltana)
/S &u#h *r the gi*t * *urther sight+> 7athan &uttered+ /r
the hnest( * the true gd)/
/9u/re wrng t &#'+/ H(#illa tld hi&+ /and *lish t
%las$he&e)/ Her !i#e was ddl( intense) She wasn/t 2uting
Pater Saltana an( lnger+ %ut 7athan had the i&$ressin that
her wrds weren/t her wn , at least+ nt entirel()
The reasn the wisest drea&s are s #n*used+/ H(#illa went
n+ /is that the *uture is nt (et &ade) It e-ists+ at $resent+ as a
near,in*inite set * $ssi%ilities+ whse li'elihd #hanges
with e!er( se#nd that ti#'s awa() The &ere *a#t * l'ing
int that sea * $ssi%ilities a**e#ts the li'elihd+ s e!er(,
thing we gli&$se #hanges as we tr( t *#us n it+ %e#ause
we/!e gli&$sed it+ and %e#ause we/re tr(ing t *#us n it) I* we
saw it an( ther wa(+ the gd whi#h grants us sight wuld %e
l(ing)/
7athan de#ided that he had li'ed H(#illa %etter when she
was .ust a girl+ untu#hed %( an( utside *r#e) It was nl( t
%e e-$e#ted that wise,drea&ers wuld %e#&e wiser+ %ut this
was de*initel( s#ar()
9u &ight thin' that &( talent is t un#ertain t %e use,
*ul+/ she #ntinued+ as i* she were still tr(ing+ wnderingl(+ t
&a'e sense * what she were sa(ing+ /%ut i&agine the alterna,
ti!e) I&agine l'ing int the *uture and seeing it all &a$$ed
ut+ *i-ed and de*inite+ $er*e#tl( rdered and unaltera%le)
What %ene*it #uld we gain *r& su#h insight as that6 It wuld
nl( tell us that we were utterl( hel$less t #hange an(thing+
utterl( i&$tent t &a'e an(thing * ursel!es ther than
what/s alread( &ade)/
Aren/t we6 7athan thught , %ut H(#illa was lst in her wn
$ri!ate wilderness+ and wuldn/t ha!e heard hi& i* he had
s$'en the wrds alud)
/It wuld tell us that we/re &a#hines+/ H(#illa said+ with an
dd edge t her !i#e whi#h suggested that she was %eginning
t *righten hersel*+ /r $u$$ets+ a#ting ut a ritual we #an nei,
ther #hange nr understand) What 'ind * &ind #uld su#h a
seer ha!e6 What 'ind * thughts and *eelings #uld she ha!e6
Her e-$erien#e wuld %e $ure hrrr+ a sensatin * a%slute
and ines#a$a%le entra$&ent) That/s what the ene&( want t
&a'e * the *uture+ 7athan+ and * the whle * e-isten#e)
The( want t %ring rder t the wrld) Well+ I/& glad that
when I drea& wisel(+ I see #n*usin) I* I #uldn/t see #n*u,
sin+ I wuldn/t %e *ree and I wuldn/t %e hu&an+ and the gd
whse gi*t I %ear wuld %e the &st &nstrus t(rant i&agin,
a%le)/
She didn/t sund at all glad) She sunded as i* she *elt that
she ught t %e+ %ut #uldn/t 2uite *ind the #urage) In her
wn wa(+ 7athan thught+ she &ust %e as *rightened as he was
, %ut the *a#t that her wa( was s di**erent *r& his was *right,
ening in itsel*)
S &u#h+ 7athan thught+ *r %eing *ree) S &u#h *r %eing
hu&an)
As dus' *ell+ thugh+ the( *und their guide) While the sun
shne the( had seen %irds * se!eral 'inds *luttering a%ut the
%ran#hes * the %ushes r darting *r& ne t anther+ %ut
nw the dar' was gathering the %irds were gathering t+ int
une-$e#tedl( huge *l#'s whi#h t' t the air en &asse+
wheeling this wa( and that as the( $i$ed their !arius #alls+
and then set ** *r their rsts)
There0/ said H(#illa+ her *inger *llwing the dire#tin ta'en
%( ne * the *l#'s+ s&e wa( t the nrth * their westward
#urse) That/s where we/ll *ind water) It/s ut * ur wa(+ %ut I
dn/t thin' we #an rea#h El!enr tnight , we/d d %etter t
&a'e the detur)/
/Let/s h$e it/s nt *ar+/ 7athan said , %ut he swi*tl( realised
that i* the water had %een t *ar distant the( wuld nt ha!e
%een a%le t see the %irds des#end) He and H(#illa a#tuall(
#ntri!ed t in#rease their $a#e+ in s$ite * their *atigue+ as
urgen#( s$urred the& n)
As the night %e#a&e a%slute the tw *ugiti!es arri!ed at the
ri& * a sau#er,sha$ed de$ressin) In the &iddle * the
de$ressin was a $l surrunded %( rushes and #hi&eri#al
*lwering $lants) The( were *ar stranger than an( that 7athan
had e!er seen %e*re)
There was a sa(ing in the !illage whi#h %ade #hildren %eware
* the gardens * gd) Its &eaning had ne!er %een #lear t
7athan+ %ut as sn as he saw this %i1arre arra( * *lwers he
thught he understd what 'ind * garden the gd *
Gul1a#andra &ight &aintain) Alas+ he #uld nt e-er#ise due
#autin) The need t drin' !errde all ther #nsideratins)
He *r#ed his wa( thrugh a #lu&$ * rushes and threw hi&,
sel* dwn n the edge * the $en water+ s#$ing u$ hand,
*uls and *illing his a!id &uth)
All arund hi&+ the %irds were #hattering , %ut e!en as he
dran' their #n!ersatin #eased)
When he had had enugh+ he &ade n atte&$t t get u$+
%ut si&$l( rlled n t his %a#' and l'ed u$wards at the
s'()
The stars were ut in *r#e nw+ as restless as e!er) The( were
shi*ting this wa( and that+ a$$arentl( at rand&+ #hanging
#lur !er( slightl( as the 2ualit( * their light altered)
7athan wndered whether the( were as restless nw as the(
had %een when he was a little #hild) E!er(ne said that the(
were %e#&ing 2uieter , that thrughut his li*eti&e the( had
%een grwing steadil( less irrita%le , %ut 7athan #uld nt
tell) He #uld nt re&e&%er a ti&e when the &!e&ent *
the stars had %een nti#ea%l( &re !igrus) Was it $ssi%le+
he wndered+ that it was nl( an-iet( that &ade his elders
thin' that the stars &ight %e settling dwn6
The last ti&e the stars had std still+ it was said+ the
I&$eriu& had *allen ut * the s'(4 a dire $unish&ent &eted
ut t the wrld) Were the( t stand still again+ it was said+
then the I&$eriu& wuld #&e again) Tda(+ * #urse+ the
I&$eriu& had #&e , %ut when Pater Saltana was at his s#ari,
est he wuld s&eti&es s$ea' * an I&$eriu& %e(nd the
wrld/s I&$eriu&4 a True I&$eriu&+ !aster than an(ne
#uld i&agine) The wrld/s I&$eriu& #uld %e *ught+ Pater
Saltana had alwa(s assured the& , althugh 7athan was n
lnger a%le t %elie!e it , %ut the True I&$eriu& was irre,
sisti%le) I* the gd * Gul1a#andra were e!er dis$leased with
the $ra(ers and sa#ri*i#es **ered %( his $e$le+ Pater Saltana
had $r$hesied+ while his e(es had grwn sul$hurus and
terri%le+ then the gd wuld &erel( rest his hand+ the stars
wuld stand still in the hea!ens and death wuld rain dwn
*r& the s'()
A##rding t Pater Saltana+ in his 2uieter and gentler
&&ents+ the stars did nt reall( &!e at all+ an( &re than
the sun &!ed arund the wrld) The sun nl( a$$eared t
&!e a#rss the s'( %e#ause the wrld was turning+ and the
stars nl( a$$eared t %e restless %e#ause the wrld was in the
gri$ * a #urius 'ind * str&4 a str& whse winds stirred
the *unda&ental *a%ri# * s$a#e+ &a'ing wa!es in the !id)
E!en s+ death #uld des#end *r& the s'( li'e a str& *
hail+ i* the $e$le * Gul1a#andra were ungenerus in their
sa#ri*i#es and unenthusiasti# in their $ra(ers)
All three &ns had risen nw+ and all * the& were *ull)
7athan had seen all three * the& *ull at the sa&e ti&e n tw
$re!ius ##asins+ %ut the( had %een *ar &re widel( dis,
tri%uted a%ut the s'() He did nt thin' that he had e!er seen
the& s #lse tgether+ e!en as #res#ents) B( the ti&e the(
rea#hed their 1enith+ he .udged+ the( wuld %e e!en #lser+
arranged in a tight triangle whse sides were * e2ual length)
/7athan0/ H(#illa s#rea&ed+ s ludl( that he sat %lt u$right)
It was as well that he did) He heard the sund * .aws sna$,
$ing shut+ s #lse that a little gust * *ul %reath stirred the
hairs in the %a#' * his ne#')
7athan didn/t waste ti&e l'ing arund) He di!ed awa(
*r& the $lside+ s$rawling a&ng the rushes)
B( the ti&e he did turn rund there was nthing t %e seen
n the $l/s sur*a#e %ut a !ast #ir#le * s$reading ri$$les)
H(#illa/s silhuette l&ed a%!e hi&+ %ltting ut a *ew *
the stars) He #uldn/t see the hand that she was e-tending t
hi&+ %ut he 'new it was there) He t' it+ and H(#illa hel$ed
hi& u$) There was s&ething in her tu#h that &ade hi&
2ui!er+ %ut he was grate*ul ne!ertheless)
What was it6/ he as'ed)
/Nthing I ha!e a na&e *r+/ she tld hi&) /It had a lng ne#'
and a head li'e a sna'e/s+ %ut it see&ed t ha!e a %ig %d( su%,
&erged %elw the sur*a#e) I dn/t thin' it will #&e ut * the
water+ and it/ll $r%a%l( &!e sluggishl( i* it des+ %ut we/d
%etter lea!e a wide &argin .ust in #ase)/
7athan was glad t %ser!e that H(#illa sunded &re li'e
hersel* nw) There/s a $la#e *rt( r *i*t( $a#es that wa( where
we #an lie dwn+/ she added) The grund/s nt %are+ %ut the
grass isn/t t tall r s$i'(+ and we #an &a'e &attresses * a
srt %( #utting rushes) 9u ha!e a 'ni*e+ I su$$se6/
/Onl( a little ne+/ 7athan tld her+ re&e&%ering hw
dread*ull( inade2uate it had see&ed when he had needed a
wea$n) It $r!ed+ hwe!er+ t %e 2uite ade2uate t the tas'
* #utting rushes+ n#e he had %r'en the rigid ste&s)
/We shuld eat s&ething+/ 7athan tld H(#illa+ when the(
had &ade a &a'eshi*t %ed n whi#h t lie) /E!en i* it isn/t real
*d+ it/ll st$ us *eeling hungr()/
/N+> she said) The ris'/s t great) We/ll *ind s&ething
t&rrw+ when we/re n the &!e again)/ She 'new the !il,
lage sa(ing as well as he did+ and she &ust ha!e .u&$ed t the
sa&e #n#lusin a%ut the nature * this $la#e as he had) She
was su$$sed t %e a *a!urite * the true gd+ %ut e!en she
didn/t dare t eat the *ruit * his garden)
7athan was sure that his hunger wuld 'ee$ hi& awa'e+
and nt at all sure that he wanted t slee$+ gi!en that the $l
was %und t attra#t $redatrs *r& the $lain as well as thse
that alread( lur'ed %eneath its $la#id sur*a#e) He had under,
esti&ated the e-tent * his e-haustin thugh3 al&st as sn
as he laid his head dwn+ he *ell int a shallw slee$ as rest,
less as the stars and *ull * in#n!enient drea&s)
7athan had ne!er shwn the slightest sign * &agi#al a%il,
it() Li'e e!er( ther !illage #hild+ he had duti*ull( re$rted his
drea&s t Pater Saltana al&st as sn as he learned t s$ea'+
and he still re&e&%ered hw disa$$inted he had %een t
ha!e the& re.e#ted as ite&s * little interest) H(#illa/s re$rted
drea&s had nt sunded an( di**erent t his untutred ear+
and he had %een .ealus when Pater Saltana %egan ta'ing a
greater interest in the&)
Nw+ 7athan drea&ed * shi$s in s$a#e4 shi$s sha$ed li'e
deta#hed *ingers+ r *a%ulus e(e%alls+ r #hi#'en,%nes+ %ut
&ade * $lished &etal) He drea&ed * whle *l#'s * shi$s+
wheeling this wa( and that in unisn+ shting *rth *ire that
%urned whle wrlds and sent s$ears * lightning int the
hearts * the gds the&sel!es , %ut he 'new all the while that
this #uld nt %e wise,drea&ing) It was nl( a *rth * i&agi,
natin %rn * hrrr+ *ed %( *ear+ and &ade grtes2ue %( the
*e!erish heat * his %ld)
H(#illa was e!en &re restless than he+ and 7athan was !er(
#ns#ius * the *a#t that she ne!er *ell still %eside hi&) She
was alwa(s turning *r& ne side t the ther+ drawing her
'nees u$ t her %ell( at ne &&ent and stret#hing her legs as
straight as she #uld at the ne-t) She was &uttering t+
althugh he #uld nt &a'e ut what she was sa(ing t her,
sel* , and the inter&ittent &ur&ur w!e itsel* int 7athan/s
wn drea&s as the !i#e * s&e hidden #&$anin wh was
des$erate t %e understd %ut #uld nt #&&uni#ate its
warnings) The !i#e %e#a&e e!er &re *rustrated as the *ailure
#ntinued) 7athan 'new that it was nt reall( H(#illa/s !i#e)
It was the !i#e that had &erged with hers when she &ade her
lng s$ee#h a%ut wise,drea&ing4 the !i#e * s&ething
strange and s#ar()
7athan wasn/t at all sure that he wanted t listen t that
!i#e+ whether H(#illa were awa'e r aslee$+ %ut he #uldn/t
st$ hi&sel*)
E!entuall(+ 7athan %egan t thin' that he #uld &a'e sense
* at least a *ew * the wrds whis$ered int his ear+ %ut e!en
when he #a&e t that #n#lusin he #uldn/t de#ide whether
it was the !i#e itsel* that was %e#&ing #learer r whether his
wn drea& was i&$sing a 'ind * #larit( u$n it)
Alas+ &u#h * what he dis#erned see&ed t #nsist * the
na&es * $e$le and things+ s&e * whi#h were *a&iliar and
s&e * whi#h were nt)
Ga!aln was the na&e &st *re2uentl( re$eated3 that ne
he 'new)
Anther+ al&st as *re2uent+ see&ed t %e Sathrael3 that
ne he had ne!er heard %e*re) 5ana' he 'new+ Ful%ra he did
nt+ nr E##lesiar#h() Nr r'+ nr Astrn&i#an)
The ne na&e he did nt hear+ n &atter hw hard he tried+
was 7athan)
In the end+ althugh the &ur&urus !i#e ne!er died
awa(+ 7athan/s attentin was distra#ted %( s&ething *ar
&re distur%ing4 a great red,ri&&ed e(e that see&ed t *ill
his *ield * drea&,!isin+ as i* it were the e(e * the s'(
itsel*) The iris * the e(e was a thin ri& * $in' arund a
huge %la#' hle+ whi#h $ured *rth a 'ind * light li'e ne
that 7athan had ne!er seen with his wa'ing e(es4 light
whi#h withered e!er(thing it tu#hed3 the light * instanta,
neus de#a()
That light see&ed t %e e!er(where+ the glare * the e(e
una!ida%le)
/N &atter hw &u#h #n*usin (u see when (u drea&+/
his drea&,sel* tld H(#illa , althugh she was nt $resent in
his drea& as a listener , /(u #annt e!er %e *ree+ and n &at,
ter what as$e#ts * the *uture re&ain un&ade and un#ertain+
the ulti&ate *ate * e!er(thing is *leeting de#a( and a%slute
annihilatin) Nthing endures and nthing #an+ and n &at,
ter what $wer the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind &a( %tain and use+
it is d&ed t *all a$art and !anish within a single &&ent
in the great *re!er * Uni!ersal Ti&e)/
He 'new+ thugh+ that it was nl( a *lish drea&) 7athan
had ne!er %een tu#hed+ s *ar as he 'new+ %( the gd * his
$e$le) He had neither wisd& nr &agi# * his wn+ and he
#uld nt reasna%l( e-$e#t that H(#illa/s whis$ering !i#e
&ight trans*r& the essen#e * his sul+ n &atter hw &u#h
he l!ed her)
SIA
THE PLACE APPOINTE7 *r the su&&ning was the #rest * a #uri,
us se&i,#ir#ular hill+ whi#h see&ed !er( %!iusl( ut *
$la#e in the $lain that *r&ed the heartland * Gul1a#andra)
Ga!aln assu&ed that it was+ in *a#t+ a huge #ir#ular %.e#t
that had tu&%led ut * the s'( in the distant $ast and e&%ed,
ded itsel* hal*wa( int the #ntinental %edr#')
8st &eters+ Ga!aln 'new+ e-$lded n i&$a#t with the
grund i* the( had nt alread( %een e!a$rated %( the *ri#tin
* their $assage thrugh the at&s$here+ %ut this ne had
&erel( had its uter and s*ter la(ers stri$$ed awa(+ lea!ing a
dense &etalli# #re s *ier#el( &agneti# that it &ade #&,
$asses &isleading *r tw hundred &iles in e!er( dire#tin ,
a *a#t whi#h+ he h$ed+ was still un'nwn t the in!ading
*r#es)
In s$ite * its aw'ward sha$e and te-ture+ the $rtruding
$art * the star,sht had %een #!ered in due #urse %( nati!e
!egetatin) Nthing #uld ta'e rt in the hill itsel*+ %ut great
#ree$ers rted dee$ in the surrunding sil had e-tended
their %ran#hes !er it+ and the dead wd arund the li!ing
heart had %e#&e a sil,su%stitute in whi#h &an( ther
s$e#ies #uld ta'e rt) As the lea!es * the *lding #ree$ers
died and rtted int the n's and #rannies * the wden
#rwn their litter $r!ided *urther nurish&ent t $arasiti#
and sa$r$h(ti# $lants , whi#h $r!ided *d in their turn t
a ri#h !ariet( * li1ards+ sna'es and giant #enti$edes+ all *
whi#h were !en&us t un$rte#ted hu&ans)
The #rwn * the hill was ne * the true gd/s &st $ri!ate
gardens+ and had it nt %een *r the *a#t that Ga!aln had
e-tended his wn &agi#al i&&unit( t his retinue * %east,
&en , and+ * #urse+ t the =essel , the( wuld ne!er ha!e
%een a%le t rea#h the $la#e where the ritual was t %e #n,
du#ted) Had the nu&erus $re$aratr( sa#ri*i#es nt %een
re2uired well in ad!an#e+ it wuld ha!e %een a !er( aw'ward
tas' %ringing the !i#ti&s t the altar in a *it #nditin t %e
&urdered+ %ut the all,wise and e!er,$atient Changer * the
Wa(s was alwa(s $re$ared t hld s$illed %ld t the #redit
* his agents+ s that the( &ight stre u$ $wer *r i&$rtant
rites) It was e!en ru&ured that he $aid interest n su#h
a##unts+ and that ten gallns * %ld lee#hed %( #le!er tr,
ture a &nth in ad!an#e * its &agi#al de$l(&ent wuld
ha!e the $wer * ele!en %( the ti&e the design * the s$ell
was #&$leted)
This s$ell was nt nl( the &st intri#ate that Ga!aln had
e!er atte&$ted+ %ut the &st intri#ate that an( sr#erer had
atte&$ted sin#e hu&ans *irst arri!ed n the wrld that the
I&$eriu&/s star,&a$s had #alled Sig&atus) Ca!aln had %een
wr'ing n the s$ell , graduall( di!ining its sha$e and $ur,
$se as well as &a'ing the ne#essar( $re$aratins *r the *inal
ritual , *r se!en lng (ears) He strngl( sus$e#ted that *r&
the !iew$int * the gd he ser!ed the se!en (ears in 2uestin
had %een &erel( the *inal $hase * a &u#h lnger $r#ess)
T a gd+ * #urse+ se!en (ears was a &ere e(e%lin'+ and
e!en tw hundred (ears was little &re than a &&ent)
Ca!aln sus$e#ted that the rts whi#h the ritual had within
the &(sterius therwrld * the war$ went %a#' at least as *ar
as the %rie* inter!al * s$atial #al& that had allwed the
I&$erial shi$s t land+ and $erha$s &u#h *urther) He #uld
nt hel$ wndering whether e!er(thing that had ha$$ened
sin#e thse shi$s arri!ed &ight+ in s&e *ashin in#n#ei!a%le
t &erel( hu&an %eings+ ha!e %een $art * ne * the leg,
endar( s#he&es * the Changer * the Wa(s) He #uld nt hel$
wndering+ t+ whether the sr#erer a$$inted t %ring that
s#he&e t its #li&a- &ight %e destined *r %etter things than
t re&ain &erel( hu&an)
A*ter all+ Ga!aln thught+ i* a &isera%le wret#h li'e the
=essel #uld %e trans*r&ed int a $wer*ul dae&n , al%eit
at the #st * the utter annihilatin * his wn $ersnalit( ,
wh( shuld a stead*astl( l(al sr#erer * n &ean a%ilit( nt
%e ele!ated at least t $ett( dae&nhd6
Oh t %e a Lrd * Change0
What an e#stati# e-isten#e that &ust %e0
The night was well ad!an#ed %( the ti&e the $art( rea#hed
the su&&it+ %ut the stars were %right and the three &ns
were all *ull) The &ns were all #lse t their 1enith nw+
arranged in an e2uilateral triangle , a narrw #n.un#tin
whi#h wuld nt ##ur again *r three hundred and twent(,
se!en (ears) This light was &re than ade2uate t illu&inate
the ritual+ in s$ite * the residual unsteadiness * the unusu,
all( 2uiet war$str&)
The =essel had t %e stri$$ed na'ed and laid ut within the
#u$ * a !ast glden *lwer+ whse $llen,%earing anthers
%ligingl( &ade r& *r hi&+ and then %egan t #aress hi&
gentl()
Ni&ian+ alas+ had t %e #ns#ius thrughut , and %eing
the i&%e#ile that he was+ he #uld nt hel$ giggling a little as
the anthers ti#'led hi&) 8er#i*ull(+ he was *ar t terri*ied t
tr( t sa( an(thing)
The %east&en t' their $la#es with the #al& %edien#e
e-$e#ted * s&na&%ulists) Ga!aln had nt had t waste an(
* his wn energ( in h($ntising the&3 the s#ent * the night,
%l&ing *lwers had deli!ered the& s&thl( int a tran#e
while the( #li&%ed the side * the natural d&e) Ca!aln was
*ree+ there*re+ t #n#entrate all his attentin n the wrds *
the in#antatin and the a##&$an(ing gestures)
In truth+ this #&$nent * the s$ell was nt as di**i#ult as
thers he had wr'ed t &u#h lesser e**e#t , r s it see&ed
when he stru#' his $ening $se and %egan t #hant)
Ca!aln held a dagger with a wa!( %lade in his right hand
and a lighted tr#h in his le*t+ %th * whi#h wuld ha!e t %e
intrdu#ed t his *lesh at the a$$inted &&ents) He was n
stranger t #nstru#ti!e sel*,&utilatin+ and it wuld nt %e
the *irst ti&e that he had $ut ut an e(e r #ut ** a designated
a$$endage) Pr!ided that ne had *aith+ and the *a!ur *
ne/s di!ine &aster+ su#h e-#isins rarel( hurt as &u#h as ne
&ight e-$e#t+ and the da&age was alwa(s re$aired+ a*ter a
*ashin) Indeed+ his twi#e,regrwn le*t e(e saw *ar &re+ and
*ar &re 'eenl(+ than the ne he had %een %& with+ e!en i*
it was %( *ar the uglier * the nw ill,&at#hed $air)
At least it was the right e(e that he had t %u& ut this ti&e+
s there was a sli& #han#e that he wuld end u$ with tw that
were nt s #ns$i#uusl( unali'e) As *r the ther a$$endage
he had t re&!e , well+ that had ne!er %een $art * a $air and
it was s rarel( n $u%li# !iew that it hardl( &attered hw
%i1arrel( distrted it was r hw strangel( #&$li#ated its
in%uilt s$rin'ler had %e#&e) It still re&ained $er*e#tl( ser,
!i#ea%le as an instru&ent * ra!ish&ent+ and &ight e!en %e
#nsidered t %e all the &re e**e#ti!e *r its thrniness)
When the a$$r$riate $ints * the ritual arri!ed+ there*re+
Ga!aln the Great did nt hesitate r tre&%le) Nr did he
%egrudge the gd he was $rud t ser!e the last and least *
the &an( sa#ri*i#es he had **ered in $ursuit * this $arti#ular
end)
The $ain * his newl(,in#andes#ent e(e was a little wrse
than usual+ %ut that dis#&*rt had t %e **set against the
re&ar'a%le #hanges * #lur that the tr#hlight underwent
while #nsu&ing it+ whi#h his le*t e(e *und 2uite %eauti*ul)
The ther #ut hardl( hurt at all as the ra1r,'een ser$entine
%lade sli#ed thrugh ld s#ar,tissue+ and the %ld whi#h
*untained *r& the li%erated !eins was s thi#' and ri#h that
it re*le#ted the starlight wnder*ull()
It wuld ha!e %een $leasant t %e a%le t &utilate the *lesh
* the =essel t+ %ut that was nt Ga!aln/s $rergati!e) As
the s(lla%les * the rite s$illed ut int the 2uiet night+ the
$etals * the glden *lwer *lded a%ut the %(+ drawing hi&
int a 'ind * w&% , a w&% *r& whi#h he was destined t
%e !er( sn re%rn+ the gestatin * the s$ell ha!ing alread(
#&e t the %rin' * its *ull ter&)
E!en %e*re the in#antatin was #&$lete+ Ga!aln *elt his
right e(e grw again within his head+ and *elt sight return t it)
As he l'ed u$ int the glrius s'(+ he 'new that this was
an e(e that wuld see *ar &re+ and *ar &re 'eenl(+ than its
twi#e,renewed #unter$art)
He *elt his ther wund turn t s#ar,tissue t+ and *elt the
s#a% swell with awes&e $ride as it was rugh,hewn int a
tu&ur+ and then int s&ething *r whi#h e!en the se#ret
language * sr#er( had n read(,&ade na&e)
Oh t %e a Lrd * Change0 he thught) Oh t %e a &aster
* &eta&r$hsis+ de*iant * #&&n de#a(0 What %liss it is
t ser!e the true gd+ and t %e *ree0
He 'new in his heart+ * #urse+ that he was nt *ree at all ,
that he was+ in the *inal anal(sis+ n less a sla!e t *ate and *r,
tune than the =essel r the stu$idest * %east&en , %ut he was
#n!in#ed that thse wh willingl( a##e$ted sla!er(+ and
#hse their &asters !er( #are*ull(+ were as *rtunate as an(
&erel( hu&an %eing e!er #uld %e) And he was #n!in#ed+
t+ that his was the nl( #urse that #uld e!er lead a &an t
a destin( that was &re than &erel( hu&an)
When the $enulti&ate $hase * the in#antatin ended
Ga!aln $aused+ letting a &inute/s re!erent silen#e ela$se ,
and he l'ed eagerl( at the tightl(,#lsed *lwer+ agg t see
what &anner * %eing wuld %e re%rn there*r&) Then he
s$'e the *inal wrd+ and %rught the s$ell t its #n#lusin)
The *inal wrd and ulti&ate $ur$se * the ritual was4
Sathrael)
Ga!aln *elt the r#' %eneath his *eet !i%rate !er( slightl()
E!en thrugh the thi#' detritus * &an( generatins *
#ree$ers and all the se#ndar( grwth that the #ree$ers had
*a#ilitated+ Ca!aln #uld see that the huge s$here had %egun
t glw) While the !i%ratin in#reased+ until it rese&%led a
heart%eat+ the glw %rightened *r& !er&ilin t #ri&sn t
!i!id s#arlet+ and *inall( t a li!idl( lu&inus sh#'ing $in')
Ca!aln realised that the hal*,%uried star,sht was s&e
'ind * egg+ and that the *lded *lwer was &re a'in t a
%irth,#anal than a w&%) That whi#h was %eing seeded in the
=essel/s %d( was *ar t great a thing t %e lng #ntained in
an( stru#ture * *lesh+ n &atter what 'ind * &eta&r$hsis
it #uld a#hie!e)
The $etals * the *lwer %egan t un*ld+ $eeling %a#' with
statel( slwness t dis$la( their #arg)
Ga!aln had t su$$ress a $ang * disa$$int&ent t whi#h
he 'new he was nt entitled) Ni&ian had %een laid dwn
within the *lwer and Ni&ian was still there+ s languidl(
e-tended that he &ight ha!e %een sent t slee$ %( %red&) His
*lesh see&ed *resher+ t %e sure+ %ut it was .ust as $ale as it had
%een %e*re+ an egg,shell white un%urnished %( the sun)
When the =essel %egan t sit u$+ his &!e&ents see&ed
&re su$$le+ %ut his li&%s were as s#rawn( as e!er) It was nt
until he $ened his e(es and &et Ca!aln/s in2uisiti!e stare
that Ni&ian ga!e the slightest indi#atin * %eing s&ething
&re than hu&an)
Ni&ian had ne!er dared t &eet Ga!aln/s inti&idating
e(es %e*re+ %ut he l'ed int the& *ran'l( nw) His wn
e(es had %e#&e $ls * shadw+ 2uite de!id * iris r
white)
/Ga!aln6/ he said+ #uriusl( wra$$ing his tngue arund
the s(lla%les+ as i* un#ertain * their e-a#t signi*i#an#e , r i*
deter&ined t sa!ur the gi*t * s$ee#h)
/9ur hu&%le ser!ant+/ said Ga!aln+ insin#erel() Gi!en that
the dae&n,t,%e was still wearing Ni&ian/s %d(+ the wrds
sunded slightl( a%surd as well as inde#ent+ %ut $r$riet( had
t %e &aintained) E!en i* he were still addressing Ni&ian+ the
Final Sa#ri*i#e+ and nt Sathrael+ the Instru&ent *
=engean#e+ he had t %e $lite) It was slightl( galling t thin'
that this stu$id %( had su**ered s little %( #&$arisn with
his *ellw sa#ri*i#es+ r e!en %( #&$arisn with Ga!aln hi&,
sel*+ %ut the sr#erer 'new that his *aint resent&ent was
$r%a%l( undue and #ertainl( ught nt t %e !i#ed)
/Feel strange+/ the %( said) /Nt &(sel*)/
That wrried Ga!aln) It was %!iusl( Ni&ian wh was
s$ea'ing+ his sul %( n &eans *ull( %literated) Was that
%e#ause the sul in 2uestin was *ated t %e de!ured slwl(+
s that it &ight sa!ured li'e an( ther e-$erien#e * the
*lesh6 Or was it $ssi%le))) #uld it $ssi%l( %e))) that s&e,
thing had gne wrng6 Had the ritual %een i&$er*e#t6 Was
Ni&ian/s &eta&r$hsis ging awr(6
N+ Ga!aln de#ided) This was the wa( it was su$$sed t
ha$$en4 slwl(+ langurusl(+ indulgentl() It had t %e) The
alternati!e was unthin'a%le)
/Better+/ the =essel said+ a*ter a &&ent/s $ause) /Feel %etter)
But nt &(sel*)/
/Understanda%le+ lrd+/ said Ga!aln) /Su#h a trans*r&atin
&ust %e di**i#ult+ e!en *r a dae&n,t,%e)/
Ni&ian giggled at that) /Lrd0/ he re$eated+ wnderingl()
/9u #alled &e lrd0 Ga!aln the Great #alled &e lrd0/
It was unthin'a%le+ Ga!aln re&inded hi&sel*+ *ir&l(+ that
an(thing #uld $ssi%l( ha!e gne wrng) This &ust %e seen
as a test * his $atien#e) Hwe!er &u#h * the %( re&ained
within the =essel+ the e(es re!ealed the truth) The e(es were the
windws * the sul+ and there was nthing in the& nw %ut
a !id i&$enetra%le e!en t Ga!aln/s aug&ented sight4 the
!id * the war$ itsel*)
/9ur ar&( awaits+ lrd+/ Ga!aln said+ $atientl() The ene&(
has alread( #rssed the wastelands+ *aster than we anti#i$ated+
and the *inal %attle will nt %e lng dela(ed) It is ti&e t shw
these %astard #hildren * the I&$eriu& whse wrld this is+
and alwa(s will %e)/
/Ar&(6/ re$eated the %(+ still &a'ing the &st * e!er( s(l,
la%le) /7 I need an ar&(6/
7id the dae&n,t,%e reall( need an ar&(6 Ga!aln wn,
dered) Perha$s nt) On the ther hand+ gi!en that he had
gne t su#h $ains t $r!ide the dae&n with an ar&(+ it
wuld surel( %e slightl( #hurlish * the dae&n and the
Changer * the Wa(s t s$urn its ser!i#es) Was there nt t %e
a war * !engean#e6 Were the I&$erial sldiers t %e allwed
t $ut Gul1a#andra t the swrd withut the Gul1a#andrans
ha!ing the $$rtunit( t retaliate6 The dead * Cul1a#andra
were sa#ri*i#es * a srt+ * #urse+ whse deaths wuld there,
*re %e $leasing t the gd *r wh& the( died , %ut surel(
the gd wuld nt let t &an( * his wrshi$$ers $erish+
es$e#iall( while the( in#luded su#h wrth( #ha&$ins as
Ga!aln the Great) Was nt the dae&n,t,%e here t turn
the tide * %attle6 Shuld the dae&n nt %e eager t re!iew
his tr$s6
Ca!aln was a#utel( #ns#ius * the *a#t that he did nt
'nw the answers t an( * these 2uestins) He had s$ent three
lng (ears di!ining the se2uen#e * the s$ell and the $attern *
its rituals+ %ut he had ne!er %een shwn the #li&a- * the gd/s
$lan) The si&$le and dee$l( e&%arrassing *a#t was that he did
nt 'nw e-a#tl( what the dae&n,t,%e had #&e t d+ r
hw+ r t what e-tent it wuld alle!iate the $eril in whi#h the
*aith*ul * Gul1a#andra $resentl( std) He had &ade the %est
guesses he #uld+ %ut the( were nl( guesses)
/An ar&( is a !er( use*ul thing+ lrd+/ Ga!aln $inted ut+
an-iusl() There is nthing 2uite s ade$t at s$illing ene&(
%ld as an ar&() And there &ust %e %ldshed+ &ust there
nt6 The I&$eriu& &ust %e &ade t %leed+ and su**er+
$r*usel()/
/7n/t 'nw+/ said the %( , whi#h was+ Ga!aln re*le#ted+
2uite the &st distur%ing thing he #uld ha!e said)
Ga!aln #uld nt i&agine that Sathrael wuld e!er ha!e
said su#h a thing as /7n/t 'nw/) He re&inded hi&sel*+ hw,
e!er+ that what was %e*re hi& was nt (et Sathrael+ e!en
thugh Sathrael was $lainl( in#arnate in thse l!el( e(es *
dar'ness) Ni&ian %!iusl( still held a &easure * d&inin
!er his wn *lesh+ and his wn &ind) And wh( nt6 I* this
&eta&r$hsis had %een &re than tw hundred (ears in the
&a'ing+ wh( shuld it nt $r#eed t its ter&inus in a leisurel(
*ashin) Hw &an( ther $$rtunities wuld the dae&n
ha!e t taste the $ett( $leasures and $arad-es * a hu&an
%eing6
Perha$s+ Ga!aln thught+ a hu&an %d( and sul , e!en a
hu&an %d( and sul as &isera%le as Ni&ian/s , was a &eal
nt t %e hurried4 a &eal wrth sa!uring t the *ull)
But the ar&( was waiting+ and the ene&( was #&ing+ *ar t
ra$idl( *r #&*rt , and the *inal %attle #uld nt %e lng
dela(ed+ i* there were indeed t %e a *inal %attle)
There &ust %e %ldshed+ lrd+/ Ga!aln said+ de#iding that
i* the dae&n,t,%e needed hel$+ then it was his dut( t %e
hel$*ul) There &ust %e a%undant %ldshed+ nt nl( %( wa(
* sa#ri*i#e %ut *r the sa'e * delight) The utwrlders ha!e
%een %us( %reeding *r ten generatins+ and it is ti&e *r the
har!est) On the ther hand+ the des#endants * the *irst new,
#&ers in 5ala1endra+ Bul1a!ara+ "enda&ra and 9e!el'ana
ha!e %een %reeding *r a thusand generatins+ and their ne-t
har!est seasn is surel( &re than due) 9es+ lrd+ there &ust #er,
tainl( %e %ldshed+ and it &ust %e !er( generusl( distri%uted)
It is ti&e *r the #asual slaughter * the guns and the irn dis#i,
$line * the new !erlrds t %e #untered+ and %alan#ed) An
ar&( is a !er( use*ul de!i#e *r wr' su#h as that+ lrd) I ha!e
$ut a hundred thrall,wi1ards+ tw hundred #!en,&asters and
all &anner * %east&en at (ur dis$sal) The( ha!e the &eans
t $r!ide (u with a great deal * $leasure+ as well as the 'ind
* *d that (u will du%tless need and desire)/
/Fd+/ the na'ed %(li'e thing re$eated+ in a tne whi#h
&ade Ga!aln regret his #hi#e * the wrd /du%tless/) The
sr#erer realised+ %elatedl(+ that he did nt a#tuall( 'nw what
'ind * nurish&ent Sathrael wuld need t #&$lete his
&eta&r$hsis+ r what taste,sensatins he &ight desire)
The dae&n,t,%e %!iusl( had ideas * his wn n that
s#re) /Gd idea+/ he said) /Want *d)/ He see&ed a little
larger nw+ and a little sturdier+ as i* e!en the &ere idea *
*d had set hi& a little *urther alng the rad t dae&n,
hd)
As sn as he had !i#ed his desire *r *d+ the dae&n,
t,%e %egan t l' arund) Then he &!ed+ $un#ing u$n
a sna'e that had %een slee$ing %eneath the glden *lwer) He
li*ted the sna'e high int the air+ his illi&ita%l( dar' e(es
*i-ed u$n it with a 'ind * greed that nl( a !id #uld &an,
i*est)
The sna'e hissed+ and $ened its &uth t e-$se $isn,
dri$$ing *angs+ %ut the dae&n,t,%e lwered its dangling
head int his &uth and #lsed his teeth u$n it+ then *ed the
tw,*t tail in#h %( in#h int the sa&e ra!enus &aw)
/Better+/ he said+ when the sna'e had #&$letel( disa$,
$eared int his thrat) /8u#h %etter)/ The &eta&r$hsis *
Ni&ian/s *lesh had #learl( %egun) He was still $ale+ %ut the
%eginnings * a $attern had %egun t e&erge n his s'in+ li'e
the ghst * the sna'e he had .ust #nsu&ed)
The %( darted awa( t the le*t+ then t the right) Within
*i!e &inutes he had #nsu&ed tw &re sna'es+ a wart(
#rested li1ard and a #enti$ede the si1e * a %east&an/s %elt)
The &eal see&ed t gi!e the new%rn #reature #nsidera%le
satis*a#tin)
/Water+/ said the dae&n,t,%e+ thirstil() /Need water)/
/We shall ha!e t g dwn t the $lain t *ind water+ lrd+/
Ga!aln said) /I *ear that I negle#ted t %ring a *las'+ e!en *r
&( wn use)/
He had nt nti#ed until he said it hw thirst( he had
%e#&e) Burning an e(e ut alwa(s &ade hi& thirst(+ nw he
#a&e t thin' a%ut it+ %ut he had nt (et dne it *ten
enugh t ha!e #&e t a *ull a$$re#iatin * the #rrelatin)
Hw thirst(+ the+n was the dae&n,thing6
The %( wh was n lnger a %( had *und a gl%ular
*ruit hal*,%uried in the *lesh * a grwth) It l'ed li'e a #rss
%etween a giant #a#tus and a tadstl) He wren#hed it *ree
withut a$$arent e**rt and #ra#'ed it li'e an eggshell+ drin',
ing the *luid #ntained within its #re) He **ered the last *ew
dr$s t Ca!aln+ %ut *inished the& ** when Ga!aln sh'
his head)
/Still thirst(+/ the dae&n,#hild annun#ed) /C dwn
nw)/
Ca!aln was 2ui#' t agree+ and he signalled t the %east,
&en+ wh had nt (et re#!ered *r& their tran#e state , %ut
as he turned t lead the wa( the %( straightened+ $ri#'ing
u$ a $air * ears that suddenl( see&ed twi#e as large as the(
had %e*re+ la!ishl( tu*ted with range hair) The *a#e was
still Ni&ian/s *a#e+ a$art *r& the e(es and ears+ and the
li&%s were still Ni&ian/s s#rawn( li&%s+ e-#e$t that %th
the ar&s and the legs nw see&ed at least a hand/s,%readth
lnger+ %ut the $atterned whle was un&ista'a%l( nt
Ni&ian , and the !i#e+ when it s$'e again+ had a !er( di*,
*erent ti&%re)
/Sldiers are #&ing+ Ca!aln+/ the new%rn said) /B #an
hear and see the&+ nl( a *ew &iles **) The tru#'s are dri!ing
thrugh the night+ using their headlights t *ind a wa( a#rss
the $lain) The( will %e here %e*re &rning , a little t
late))) %ut the &argin * that lateness &ight %e in#n!e,
nientl( little))) r $erha$s in#n!enientl( great)))/ The !i#e
trailed **+ as i* the &ind %ehind it #uld nt %ring all the
$ssi%ilities int *#us)
/9es+ lrd+/ Ga!aln said+ *eeling a distin#t under#urrent *
an-iet( &ingling with the tidal surge * his relie*) /9ur ar&(
awaits (u+ lrd)/
/Ca!aln+/ said the e&%r( * the dae&n Sathrael+ slwl(
and rather drea&il(+ /(u ha!e nt the slightest idea what
awaits &e+ and nr ha!e I) Let us h$e that we shall %th ha!e
an interesting ti&e *inding ut)/
And withut waiting *r an answering #&&ent+ the =essel
suddenl( set ** dwn the $re#i$itus sl$e+ running at a
re#'less $a#e that n &ere &an r %east&an #uld h$e t
&at#h)
Su$$se he *alls0 Ga!aln thught , %ut the idea that the
=essel &ight %e %r'en %e*re the dae&n it had %een %& t
#ntain had ti&e t e&erge was t hrri%le t #nte&$late)
The dawning awareness that the =essel was alread( ut *
sight+ and that Ga!aln had nt the *aintest idea where he was
ging+ r wh(+ was 2uite %ad enugh t %e ging n with)
Ga!aln was nt !ain enugh t thin' that the dae&n,t,%e
reall( needed hi&+ %ut he was nt in the slightest du%t that
he needed the dae&n,t,%e) Withut the dae&n t hel$
hi&+ e!en an ar&( led %( the greatest sr#erer in Gul1a#andra
#uld nt h$e t &a'e a stand against the 'ind * wea$nr(
lerius Ful%ra had)
/Well+ dn/t .ust stand there+/ Ga!aln hwled at the stu$e,
*ied %east&en) /Fllw hi&0/
SE=EN
7ATHAN WO5E in/ with a start+ astnished and alar&ed t dis,
#!er that he had %een aslee$) H(#illa was slee$ing %eside hi&+
dee$l( %ut nt rest*ull() She la( still+ %ut she was &uttering
*e!erishl(+ as i* engrssed in s&e tense argu&ent) He #uld
see her *a#e 2uite #learl(+ illu&inated as it was %( the la&$s *
the three *ull &ns) The( had $assed their 1enith nw and
their tight *r&atin had %egun t %rea' as the nearer nes
graduall( $ulled ahead * the &st distant)
Hw lng wuld it %e+ 7athan wndered+ %e*re the( #a&e
s #lse t a $er*e#t align&ent again6 But he had n ti&e *r
su#h a%stra#t 2uestins3 the &re urgent issue was what had
w'en hi& u$) 7awn was still s&e wa( **+ and the en!irns
* the $l see&ed $er*e#tl( still) The nl( sund he #uld
hear was a &uted hu&+ li'e a swar& * %ees arund a hi!e)
Bees6 In the dead * night6
7athan sat u$+ tr(ing t *igure ut whi#h dire#tin the nise
was #&ing *r&) He settled n east) Then he std u$ , and
n#e he was u$right $eering !er the %ushes+ he saw the lights)
There were three %right nes+ arranged li'e the &idnight
&ns in a tight triangle with a hri1ntal %ase and a %right
a$e- , %ut there were thers %ehind+ hal*,hidden)
The &uted hu& was the sund * distant engines3 alread( it
was grwing twards a rar)
7athan 'nelt dwn and %egan sha'ing H(#illa urgentl()
Wa'e u$0/ he %egged her) The(/re #&ing a*ter us0 A #n!(
* tru#'s+ using headla&$s and a sear#hlight t guide the&
a#rss the $lain)/
It wasn/t eas( t ruse her3 wise,drea&ers sle$t &re dee$l(
than rdinar( *l'+ e!en when the( were drea&ing as *lishl(
as an(ne else+ and H(#illa had &atured as a wise,drea&er dur,
ing the last *ew hurs) On#e 7athan had dragged her t her
*eet+ hwe!er+ and $inted t the a$$ra#hing lights+ H(#illa
sn realised the e-tent * their danger)
That/s sill(+/ she said) /Wh( #hase us6/
7athan had alread( realised that his *irst assu&$tin was
$r%a%l( wrng) The( &ust %e heading *r the water,hle+/ he
said) The( &ust ha!e a &a$) An in!asin *r#e wuld need
gd &a$s , and the( &ust ha!e %een $re$aring t in!ade
Gul1a#andra *r a lng ti&e)/
H(#illa didn/t answer i&&ediatel( , her li$s were *r&ing
the sha$es * nu&%ers as she tried t #unt the tru#'s+ %ut it
wasn/t eas( while the thers were lined u$ %ehind the lead
!ehi#le)
There aren/t that &an(+/ 7athan tld her) /Fi!e r si-+ &a(%e
se!en) An ad!an#e $art( , $r%a%l( s#uts) There/s a hill u$
ahead , &a(%e the( want t ##u$( it *r use as an %ser!a,
tin,$st) It/s the nl( high $int *r &an( a &ile+ and the(
wn/t 'nw that there/s nthing t %e seen *r& the t$ * it
%ut &re wild #untr()/
/We dn/t 'nw that+/ H(#illa $inted ut) /Fr all we 'nw+
Ga!aln/s ar&( &ight %e #a&$ed within a &ile * it)/
/I* it were+/ 7athan retrted+ /ur $e$le wuld $r%a%l( ha!e
##u$ied it alread() The $int is+ what d we d6 The %est hid,
ing,$la#es are #lse t the $l+ %ut i* we dn/t get *ar enugh
awa( and the( de#ide t st$ *r water+ the(/ll %e *ar t #lse
*r #&*rt)/
/We ught t tr( t *ind ut what the(/re u$ t+/ H(#illa said+
althugh she didn/t sund !er( $siti!e) /It &ight %e i&$r,
tant)/
/It wn/t d an( gd t *ind ut i* we #an/t $ass the in*r,
&atin n+/ 7athan said , %ut he 'new that the( had alread(
argued t lng) The wa( the tru#'s ate u$ the grund was
2uite a&a1ing t s&ene used t wat#hing #ara!ans *
#a&ules $ld a#rss the A&%er Waste) He gra%%ed the slee!e *
H(#illa/s shin and $ulled her in a dire#tin dire#tl( $$site t
the $l , whi#h ha$$ened t %e a little east * nrth)
The *urther the( went the less #!er there was+ %ut 7athan
'new that the( had t &a'e the %est #&$r&ise the( #uld+
withut an( *urther hesitatin) The sear#hlight was alread(
within range+ and althugh their %lue and %rwn #lthing was
reasna%l( dar'+ the light nl( had t $i#' ut their $ale *a#es
t alert the a$$ra#hing I&$erial sldiers t their $resen#e)
/Here0/ 7athan said+ as he *und a #lu&$ * %ushes that
see&ed reasna%l( dense %ut nt at all thrn() H(#illa du#'ed
dwn readil( enugh+ %ut sti**ened suddenl()
The(/ll see the #ut reeds+/ she hissed+ an-iusl() The(/ll 'nw
we/re here)/
It was *ar t late t d an(thing a%ut their &a'eshi*t %eds+
and 7athan wasn/t sure that the( #uld ha!e dne !er( &u#h
e!en i* the( had thught * it sner) The nl( alternati!e the(
had nw was t run as *ast as the( #uld int the night and
'ee$ n running , %ut the( &ight nt %e a%le t utrun the
rea#h * the sear#hlight n &atter hw 2ui#'l( the( &!ed)
The tru#'s *anned ut as the( a$$ra#hed the $l) 8re
sear#hlights #a&e n+ ra'ing %a#' and *rth a#rss the *ertile
$at#h * grund) Hal* a d1en ani&als %r'e #!er and ran
*r& the light+ and there was a %rie* #ra#'le * gunshts)
7athan heard ne #reature #&e #rashing t earth+ and shud,
dered slightl( at the realisatin that he had nt had the
slightest idea that an(thing s &assi!e was lur'ing near%()
/I h$e the &eat $isns the&+/ H(#illa &uttered , %ut wild
$igs were gd eating+ e!en thugh the( *ten *ed the&sel!es
n $lants that were nt+ and gha1al &eat was har&less e!en
thugh it was s&ewhat la#'ing in nutritinal !alue)
The( heard rders %ar'ed %a#' and *rth as the &en dise&,
%ar'ed *r& the tru#'s , rders whi#h suggested that the
ene&( sldiers did nt intend t $ause *r lng n#e the( had
laid in st#'s * water) S&e+ hwe!er+ were tld t ta'e tr#hes
and sear#h the %ushes *r /an(thing use*ul/ , $resu&a%l(
&eaning an(thing edi%le)
The tru#'s had s &an( lights that 7athan #uld see the
I&$erial sldiers 2uite #learl() Li'e the tw &en he had seen in
the .ude(e *rest the( wre tightl(,*itting gre( uni*r&s) The
wea!ers in his !illage were s'illed+ %ut the( #uld nt turn ut
#lthing s neatl(,tailred) 7athan had alwa(s thught his
#lthes $er*e#tl( ade2uate+ %ut he had ne!er %een a%le t #&,
$are their *a%ri# with su#h #lth as this)
The %ts and %elts the sldiers wre were e!en &re
i&$ressi!e) There was n tanner in the !illage+ s all the
leather,gds its $e$le $ssessed had t %e %ught+ %ut
7athan was lu#'( enugh t ha!e a $air * %ts that n &re
than a d1en %(s %e*re hi& had dis#arded+ ha!ing re#'lessl(
grwn ut * the&) B( #&$arisn with the high %ts these
&en wre+ thugh+ 7athan/s were hrri%l( shdd() In additin
t their well,st#'ed %elts+ the sldiers/ uni*r&s had $#'ets
and %uttns) The( were de#rated with all &anner * insignia+
whse &eanings 7athan #uld nt %egin t guess)
7athan had nt had ti&e t stud( the &en in the *rest
%e*re hurr(ing t distra#t the& with stnes+ and he had 'e$t
his head s *i-edl( dwn while the( were &urdering Hui&e
that he had hardl( #aught a *urther gli&$se * the&) Nw that
he #uld see the& #learl(+ thugh+ he realised hw !er( unli'e
hi& the I&$erial sldiers were) E!er(thing the( wre r #arried
was %etter,designed and %etter,&ade)
Cul1a#andra was a #i!ili1ed land+ 7athan had alwa(s %een
tld) It had $reser!ed a use*ul &easure * the learning %rught
t the wrld %( the !er( *irst hu&ans , %ut he du%ted that
there was an(thing in Cul1a#andra/s #ities t &at#h the #lthes
the I&$erial sldiers wre+ let alne the guns that the( #arried)
/Lie lw and lie still+> 7athan warned H(#illa) /7n/t l' u$
i* the light shines ur wa()/ It was %!ius enugh+ as &u#h a
re&inder t hi&sel* as an instru#tin t her) She didn/t answer+
and didn/t %ther t tell hi& t %e as silent as he was still)
7athan heard s$lashing sunds as sldiers gathered %( the
$l,side+ du%tless .#'e(ing *r $sitin as the( lwered
#ntainers int the water) The( see&ed greatl( relie!ed t ha!e
*und the $l+ and 7athan wndered wh( their su$$lies were
s lw when less than *i*teen hurs had $assed sin#e the( had
#a$tured the !illage well) Culd 5ana' $ssi%l( ha!e s$iled
the well6 I* s+ then the !illage was dead as well as de*eated3
withut a relia%le well it #uld ne!er %e re%uilt)
The night was rent %( a sudden s#rea&+ and 7athan re&e&,
%ered his lu#'( es#a$e) There was a 2ui#' %last * gun*ire+
#&%ining the rattle * a d1en shts with the sinister+ si11ling
hiss * a 'ind * wea$n t whi#h he #uld nt $ut a na&e)
There was a new *usillade * rders and #urses) E!en the #urses
the I&$erial sldiers used see&ed &re i&$ressi!e than thse
7athan had heard in the &uths * la%urers and trades&en+
re*erring t an E&$err and a Thrne) Was there an E&$err in
5ala1endra+ 7athan wndered+ r were the sldiers $reser!ing
lre * their wn+ whi#h their an#estrs had %rught with the&
when the( *ell *r& the s'(6
8st * the shuted rders were re&inders * the need t
#nser!e a&&unitin) When the $ani# had died dwn+
thugh+ there was a residual &aning whi#h suggested that the
lur'er in the $l had nt nl( drawn %ld %ut in*li#ted a
serius #asualt( n the ene&()
Gul1a#andra stri'es %a#'0 7athan thught+ e-ultantl()
His e-ultatin did nt last lng) Tw sldiers were #&ing in
his dire#tin+ shining their tr#hes a%ut the& , all the &re
urgentl(+ nw the( 'new that danger lur'ed in the shadws)
These were nt the *ee%le tr#hes that !illagers ##asinall(
i&$r!ised *r& il,sa'ed rags) Their %ea&s were white and
$enetrating) The( were &a#hines whi#h had see&ingl( d&es,
ti#ated the light * the sun)
Un*rtunatel(+ there were ani&als hiding in the under,
grwth+ whse instin#ts #&&anded the& t lie lw until the(
were e-$sed , and then t run in $ani#)
N ani&al that was nt $ani#,stri#'en wuld e!er ha!e run
int a thi#'et where hu&ans were hiding+ %ut these tr#hes
were t %!ius a %rea#h * nr&al #ir#u&stan#e) A sw and
a litter * hal* a d1en $iglets %r'e *r& their wn hiding,
$la#e and ran straight *r the densest #!er arund , whi#h
was+ alas+ e-a#tl( what 7athan had $i#'ed ut as an ideal hid,
ing $la#e)
The sw ran right int hi&+ $ursued %( gun*ire) He had n
alternati!e %ut t rll sidewa(s as the ani&al realised her &is,
ta'e and turned t *ight as nl( a des$erate &ther wuld) Had
tw gunshts nt ta'en her dwn i&&ediatel( she wuld
$r%a%l( ha!e dne hi& s&e da&age+ %ut as it was she nl(
#ntri!ed t gi!e hi& awa( t the &en with tr#hes+ wh were
as 2ui#' t $un#e n the tw !illagers as the( had %een t
sht the $ig)
/Lie still+ $easant0/ 7athan was rdered+ as a %ted *t
#a&e dwn hea!il( n his %a#'+ $inning hi& dwn) He heard
a se#nd and identi#al rder+ and 'new i&&ediatel(+ e!en
thugh his *a#e was $ressed dwn int the sil+ that H(#illa
had su**ered the sa&e *ate)
8&ents later+ he was hauled t his *eet as his #a$tr
shuted %a#' the news that /tw hstiles/ had %een #a$,
tured)
The I&$erial sldiers dragged 7athan and H(#illa t the
%a#' * ne * the tru#'s+ and sh!ed the& u$ against the tail,
%ard) Si- r se!en tr#hes were shining in their *a#es+ and the(
were %linded %( the da11le)
The(/re unar&ed+/ ne !i#e $inted ut)
There &a( %e &re0/
There/s s&e rushes !er there+ sir+ #ut t &a'e a &attress *
srts) Onl( %ig enugh *r tw)/
/7esn/t &ean there weren/t *ur r si- , &ight ha!e %een
ta'ing turns t slee$)/
/:ust &a'e sure (u #!er the area+ se#tr %( se#tr) 9u0
Where d (u #&e *r&6/
There didn/t see& t %e an( $int in l(ing) The !illage+/
7athan said)
Whi#h !illage6/
The !illage)/
Whe!er had as'ed the 2uestin didn/t li'e that answer) The
shadw * a ri*le,%utt *li#'ered in the %la1e * light and di$$ed
7athan n the #hin , %ut the &an wh had stru#' ut at hi&
had alread( %een interru$ted and hauled %a#')
/He/s .ust an a%rigine 'id) His !illage is the whle %ld(
wrld) He/s $r%a%l( ne!er seen a &a$+ let alne heard the
na&es n it) Whi#h wa( were (u #&ing *r&+ 'id6 Awa(
*r& the sun r twards it6/ The( %!iusl( thught his ign,
ran#e e-tended t nt 'nwing east and west %( their $r$er
na&es+ whi#h .ust went t $r!e that the( were the stu$id nes
, #it(,%red &er#hants alwa(s assu&ed that *ar&ers and rural
trades&en were idits+ and sldiers &ust %e e!en &re #n*i,
dent * their intelle#tual su$eririt()
We/re *r& the !illage (u atta#'ed (esterda(+/ 7athan tld
the&+ his !i#e *ra#tured %( anger and des$air) /We were in the
.ude(e *rest when (u set it n *ire) There was nl( ne wa(
t run)/
/And nl( ne $la#e t ai& *r+ at least n da( ne+/ his 2ues,
tiner #n#luded+ see&ingl( satis*ied that his $wers *
dedu#tin were little shrt * awes&e) /7id (u &eet the #rit,
ter in the $nd6 Or did (u 'nw it was there6/
/I didn/t 'nw+> 7athan said gri&l() /I* H(#illa hadn/t
s#rea&ed+ it wuld ha!e gt &e)/
8re than ne * the& laughed at that)
/9u e!er %een this *ar *r& h&e %e*re6/
/N+/ 7athan said)
/9u/re H(#illa6/ the 2uestiner said+ turning his attentin t
his se#nd #a$ti!e) /9u e!er %een this wa( %e*re+ H(#illa6/
/Nt this *ar+/ H(#illa said) 7athan didn/t 'nw whether she
was l(ing+ %ut he sus$e#ted that she &ight %e) He hadn/t had
t+ %ut she had s$ent ti&e alne with Pater Saltana latel(+ and
nt in the !illage)
There/s su$$sed t %e a he&is$heri#al *r&atin west *
here , that/s li'e hal* a %all+ as i* the %all were %uried hal*,wa(
dee$ in the sil) 9u see an(thing li'e that %e*re the sun set6/
H(#illa didn/t answer+ and 7athan sensed &!e&ent within
the %la1e+ as i* the ri*le,%utt were %eing readied *r anther
%lw)
/I saw it+/ he said+ 2ui#'l(+ 'nwing that it #uldn/t $ssi%l(
&a'e an( di**eren#e) /It/s a lng wa( **)/
/I* (u #uld see it+> the 2uestiner said+ still e-#eedingl( sel*,
satis*ied+ /it/s #lse enugh) We aren/t sa!ages wal'ing %are*t
, we ha!e tru#'s))) hrseless #arts) =r& !r&)/
7athan didn/t %ther t $int ut that he and H(#illa were
wearing %ts) He had alread( realised that the sldier/s $in,
in as t what &ight #nstitute a ser!i#ea%le $air * %ts was
li'el( t %e di**erent *r& his wn)
/Shuld we 'ill the& nw6/ anther !i#e wanted t 'nw)
There/s s&ething weird a%ut the girl , &ight %e a &utant)/
/N+/ said the 2uestiner+ wh was $resu&a%l( an **i#er)
We/!e gt water nw , and we #an assu&e it/s sa*e t drin'+ as
these tw &ust ha!e tried it ut hurs ag , %ut we still need
*d) The( 'nw %etter than we d what/s edi%le)/
/We/!e gt a #n!erter)/
/Sure we d , and the $ra(ers t g with it) But e!en the te#h,
$riests ad&it #n!erters aren/t &u#h gd i* the(/re nl(
#n!erting l#al #ra$ that/s as &u#h use t us as wd,sha!,
ings) This $la#e is *ull * &utants+ $lants and ani&als ali'e) I/!e
%een ut in the wilderness %e*re+ and I 'nw the !alue * l#al
'nwledge)/
What l#al 'nwledge6 The( said the&sel!es the( ha!en/t
%een ut here %e*re) The( grw their wn+ .ust li'e a%rigines
e!er(where) E!en i* the( did 'nw an(thing+ the(/d lie) I #an see
the $int * 'ee$ing the girl a while+ unless she reall( is a
&utant+ %ut we ught t 'ill the %( regardless)/
/7idn/t (u 'ill enugh 'ids (esterda(6 Ha!e a %it *
$atien#e+ wh( dn/t (u6 He/s a *ar&,%(+ nt a sr#erer) S
hw d (u *an#( .%s as head inter$reter and nu&%er ne
$isn,taster+ 'ids6 Bearing in &ind that (u .ust heard the
alternati!e)/
/It wn/t hel$ (u+/ H(#illa said+ her !i#e unnaturall( #al&)
/9ur leaders shuldn/t ha!e sent (u ut here li'e this) 9u/ll
ne!er get %a#' ali!e+ with r withut ur hel$) 9u/ll all %e
dead %( sunset)/
That #hanged the &d * the &en wh were ranged a%ut
the& in a se&i,#ir#le) Su#h gd hu&ur as the( had e-hi%ited
was nl( a de*en#e against their an-iet() The( 'new well
enugh that theirs was the ris'iest $sitin * an( s *ar ta'en
u$ %( the in!ading ar&() /8a( the E&$err $rte#t us+/ &ut,
tered ne &an+ re*le-i!el() /Praise Hi&+/ e#hed anther)
Wh/s ging t 'ill us6/ the **i#er wh had %een as'ing the
2uestins wanted t 'nw , %ut his !i#e had #hanged slightl(
nw that he had heard H(#illa s$ea') He #uld nt $ssi%l(
'nw that the !i#e she had used was nt entirel( her wn+ %ut
there was s&ething in it that had distur%ed hi&) He was
a$$rehensi!e)
/9u wn/t e!en see the&+/ H(#illa #ntinued) Her !i#e was
thi#'+ as i* she had nt *ull( e&erged *r& the wise,drea&
whse #n*usin had !er*lwed int the &utterings 7athan
had heard)
/Are (u tal'ing a%ut (ur $re#ius #!en,&asters6/ the **i,
#er de&anded) /Or the hrde * %east&en the(/re su$$sed t
%e gathering6 Is that what the( tell (u+ t 'ee$ (u in their
thrall , that when the e!il da( #&es+ the(/ll use their $wer t
destr( (ur ene&ies6 Well+ I/!e gt news *r (u) We/!e gt
in2uisitrs and te#h,$riests+ and $ra(ers that wr'+ and ur
$wer utweighs all the $ett( tri#'s (ur hedge,wi1ards #an
turn) We/re the I&$eriu&)/
That (u are nt+/ H(#illa re$lied+ gra!el(+ in a !i#e s
unnaturall( dee$ that 7athan #uld *ind nne * the ld
H(#illa in it at all)
/What d (u 'nw a%ut it6/ the **i#er wanted t 'nw ,
%ut his unease see&ed t ha!e in#reased)
/I said she was a &utant+> anther !i#e $ut in) /I sa( 'ill the&
%th+ nw)/ This ti&e it was the %arrel * a ri*le that #a&e ut
* the wall * light t $rd 7athan in the #hest and thrust hi&
$ain*ull( %a#' against the tail%ard * the tru#')
/He/s right , we ught t 'ill the& nw+/ said a third !i#e)
/Wait0/ said the **i#er) /I* she reall( des 'nw s&ething+ I
want t lea& what she 'nws a%ut this thing that/s ging t
'ill us all %e*re ne-t night*all) I* (u want t li!e+ girl+ (u/d
%etter tell &e s&ething ; need t hear) Gi!e &e a reasn t
hld n t (u a little while lnger)/
As $r&ises went+ 7athan thught+ it was distin#tl( la#'ing
in genersit( , %ut H(#illa was still in the sa&e tran#e,li'e
#al&)
/Nthing I #an tell (u will %e the least use t (u+/ the !i#e
that was nt hers said+ indi**erentl(+ /%ut i* (u thin' di**er,
entl(+ (ur e-ter&inatr is alread( within tw hundred $a#es+
a$$ra#hing !er( 2ui#'l( *r& the west)/
/What6/ The **i#er $lainl( didn/t %elie!e it , %ut e!en i* he
had+ H(#illa was right) The in*r&atin was n use t hi&)
Neither the **i#er nr an( * his &en had ti&e t %egin
anther senten#e %e*re the s#rea&ing and the shting
started)
The nise was #&ing *r& the west side * the #a&$ , and
7athan suddenl( *elt #ertain that whene!er the na&e * the
E&$err was !i#ed nw+ it was !i#ed in des$eratin and
su$erstitius terrr+ nt in #areless and #asual disregard * its
true &eaning)
7athan 'new that he hadn/t a se#nd t s$are , and he 'new
that he #uldn/t trust H(#illa t a#t ratinall( while she was in
this state) He du#'ed dwn+ dragging her dwn with hi&+ and
then he *lded his ar&s tightl( arund her as he rlled %etween
the %a#' wheels * the tru#'+ under the #hassis)
The lights had &!ed awa( in alar&3 where there had %een a
wall * light dire#ted at hi& there was nw nl( #n*usin as
the turning sldiers da11led ne anther) The gru$ had
alread( %egun t s#atter+ its &e&%ers getting their wea$ns
read( t *ire)
It wuld nl( ha!e re2uired ne * the sldiers t 'neel
dwn and unleash a 2ui#' %urst * an( 'ind * *ire %eneath the
tru#' , %ut n ne ga!e that rder and n ne t' the %urden
* res$nsi%ilit( u$n hi&sel*) Li'e the sw that had %etra(ed
the tw !illagers+ the sldiers were #reatures * instin#t and
trained re*le- , and H(#illa/s &eldra&ati# annun#e&ents
had $ressed all the right %uttns) As sn as the s#rea&ing
%r'e ut+ the sldiers ran t *a#e the $r$hesied ene&( that
had #&e t 'ill the&)
What is it that/s #&ing6/ 7athan whis$ered+ urgentl(+ in
H(#illa/s ear) /What in the wrld is it6/
/I dn/t 'nw+/ H(#illa said+ in her wn !i#e+ while tre&%ling
with stress and &re than a little *ear+ /%ut I *elt it #&ing+ and
it/s $wer*ul) The tru%le is , I dn/t 'nw i* it 'nws the di*,
*eren#e %etween the& and us) We/re hardl( %ig enugh t %e
nti#ed+ and i* it desn/t nti#e us)))/
The tenr * the &ulti$l(ing s#rea&s and the wild des$era,
tin * the gun*ire $ersuaded 7athan that H(#illa &ight well
%e right) He did nt need an at& * talent t tell hi& that
whate!er had #&e had nt #&e t sa!e the&+ n &atter hw
#n!enient its ti&ing had %een)
It had #&e *r its wn reasns+ the *irst and *re&st *
whi#h was t 'ill)
EIGHT
/INCREASE Till3 7OSAGE)/
The $riest+ whse na&e was Carr Al$alha+ l'ed u$ an-,
iusl( at Ragan Bal%erith) He &aintained his $sitin+
'neeling %eside the %ed * the stri#'en &an+ althugh the #ell
was s s&all that he had t #rane his ne#' aw'wardl( t &eet
the Chie* In2uisitr/s ga1e)
/It/s dangerus+/ he said+ *ear*ull() The %.e#tin was highl(
a&%iguus+ althugh the state&ent was undu%tedl( true) The
drug that Al$alha was using in the h$e * sti&ulating the
$s('er/s a%ilit( was a l#al $rdu#t+ identi#al t the ne that the
#ultists used t sti&ulate their wn /wise,drea&ers/) E!en their
$riests , wh had used the stu** *r #enturies+ i* nt *r &il,
lennia , ##asinall( !erdsed their #harges+ with *atal results)
The drug was du%l( dangerus) It was t-i#+ and its t-i#it(
was a &utant $rdu#t * the war$) The se#nd danger $ened
u$ the $ssi%ilit( that an( in*r&atin a $s('er * $ure i&&i,
grant st#' deri!ed %( &eans * its use &ight %e tainted at the
&st ele&entar( le!el) It wasn/t .ust the $ssi%ilit( that the
drug wuld ha!e the wrng e**e#t that had *rightened the
$riest+ thugh) Bal%erith 'new that Al$alha was als *right,
ened that it &ight ha!e the right e**e#t) N%d( li'ed %eing
arund a .ui#ed,u$ $s('er+ nt e!en a $riest+
The $riests wh had %een a%ard the shi$s that had %rught
the I&$eriu& t Sig&atus &ust ha!e %een &ade * sterner
stu**+ Bal%erith su$$sed) The( &ust ha!e %een *ar &re stead,
*ast in their *aith+ *ar &re #ertain in their trust in the %el!ed
E&$err and the $wer * his %ld) Castawa(s islated *r&
#i!ili1atin *r generatins+ #rss,%reeding all the while with
a%rigines wh were *aithless at %est+ #uld hardl( hel$ lsing
'nwledge+ %ut the gradual lss * *aith was surel( the &re
dangerus ersin) He and his $rede#essrs had dne e!er(,
thing in their $wer t ensure that the a%rigines with wh&
I&$erial %ld was &ingled were nl( *aithless+ nt a#tuall(
tainted %( the #ree$ing #rru$tin * Chas+ %ut hw #uld he
%e #ertain * his wn su##ess+ let alne that * his *re%ears6 I*
#nta#t with the True I&$eriu& were nt restred sn+ s that
authenti# in2uisitrs and $riests #uld %e $ut in $la#e * thse
wh $resentl( %re the na&e+ Sig&atus &ight %e d&ed e!en
i* lerius Ful%ra/s #a&$aign in Cul1a#andra were su##ess*ul)
That was a thught that Bal%erith #uld nt tlerate)
Sig&atus &ust %e reunited with the True I&$eriu&+ and $r$,
erl( $urged) Onl( the $riests and in2uisitrs * the True
I&$eriu& #uld %e trusted t .udge the e-a#t e-tent t whi#h
#rru$tin had $er&eated 5ala1endra+ Sstenut+ and Orl#
8el#arth/s s,#alled $ala#e)
Bal%erith 'new that Orl# 8el#arth &ust ha!e heard %( nw
that the $s('er had re$rted the a$$ra#h * the I&$erial Fleet)
He had s$ies e!er(where)
Althugh Bal%erith had n $r*+ he was #ertain in his wn
&ind that 8el#arth had rdered the assassinatin * ther
$s('ers+ nt s &u#h %e#ause he *eared what the( &ight learn
as %e#ause he *eared what the( &ight #&&uni#ate) Orl#
8el#arth %elie!ed that his ar&( was winning the war * #n,
2uest , and s it was+ i* ne t' a li&ited !iew * what
/#n2uest/ &eant , %ut he &ust 'nw $er*e#tl( well that the
&en wh were still $rud t #all the&sel!es the I&$eriu&
#uld nt win the war against the *r#es * &utatin that had
#ntri!ed the slw #rru$tin * this wrld+ unless the( had
hel$)
8el#arth &ight $retend that Gul1a#andra was the last re*uge
n Sig&atus * sr#erers and #!en,&asters+ %ut it was nl(
$reten#e) The g!ernr was n *l+ and he 'new $er*e#tl( well
that the sr#erers and #!en,&asters * the $u$$et states had
&erel( %een dri!en undergrund+ and that Sstenut was %(
n &eans *ree *r& the taint * Chas+ des$ite %eing the #a$i,
tal * 5ala1endra and the *irst %ase * the i&&igrant
#&&unit()
Orl# 8el#arth+ t wh& the wrd /I&$eriu&/ &eant $wer
* a $er*e#tl( straight*rward 'ind+ saw n $r%le& in des#ri%,
ing hi&sel* as the Planetar( G!ernr and his ad&inistrati!e
a$$aratus as the I&$eriu&) Ragan Bal%erith+ %( #ntrast+ 'new
that the wrd I&$eriu& &eant *aith+ $urit( and dis#i$line+ and
he was !er( 'eenl( aware * the !anit( * des#ri%ing hi&sel* as
a Chie* In2uisitr+ e!en thugh he was heir t a lng #hain *
a$$int&ents that &ust ha!e %egun with an authenti# in2uisi,
tr)
Bal%erith *ten wndered what that authenti# in2uisitr
wuld &a'e * the $resent situatin n Sig&atus) When *r,
&ulating his wn strategies+ he *ten as'ed hi&sel*4 What
wuld the First In2uisitr * Sig&atus want t a#hie!e+ and
hw wuld he g a%ut it6/ S&eti&es he thught that he
'new the answer) 8stl(+ alas+ he 'new nl( t well that he
did nt)
Tw hundred (ears , e!en i* the( had %een /real/ (ears
instead * slw l#al (ears , was t lng a se$aratin) Far t
&u#h had %een lst as !ital 'nwledge had %een handed dwn
*r& generatin t generatin) The des#endants * the #ln(
shi$s/ #rews had tried with all their &ight t learn e!er(thing
their *athers had t tea#h the&+ and t **er u$ their $ra(ers
with all due #n!i#tin) E!er( generatin had tried with all its
&ight t $ass n the whle truth , %ut e!en the truth needed
rein*r#e&ent %( #nte-t) E!en the strngest *aith was %und
t wea'en when the $wer * the E&$err was nt &ani*est in
e!er(da( #ir#u&stan#e)
The raw $wer * the I&$eriu& had wea'ened as the guns
i&$rted %( the shi$s de!el$ed &e#hani#al *aults+ r ran ut
* a&&unitin+ %ut that slw de#a( had %een !isi%le and eas,
il( understanda%le) The de#a( * *aith+ $urit( and dis#i$line
was *ar less eas( t &a$ ut+ and *ar &re &er#urial) N ne
'new , nt e!en the Chie* In2uisitr hi&sel* , e-a#tl( hw
&u#h+ r in what $re#ise wa(s+ the s$iritual as$e#ts * the
I&$eriu& had de#a(ed during the Sig&atus e-ile) The
te#h,$riests still said their $ra(ers+ %ut as the te#hnlgies the
$ra(ers hel$ed t &aintain were su%.e#t t a slw de#a(+ s was
the *aith that sustained the $ra(ers) That was wh( the dsage *
the drug that was %eing *ed t the $s('er had t %e in#reased+
n &atter what dangers the in#rease &ight in!l!e)
I* there reall( were an I&$erial Fleet near%(+ #nta#t had t
%e restred , r e!er(thing wuld e!entuall( %e lst)
Bal%erith 'new that the war * #n2uest was ne#essar(+ gi!en
the nurish&ent that Gul1a#andra/s #!en,&asters lent t their
*ugiti!e 'in in the ther *ur #ntinents+ %ut he 'new that it
wuld nt %e enugh) N &atter hw well it wuld ser!e
8el#arth/s sel*ish !anit(+ it #uld nt sa!e the I&$eriu& *
Sig&atus , and i* 8el#arth/s !anit( were as great as it s&e,
ti&es see&ed+ Ful%ra/s triu&$h &ight e!en ser!e t a##elerate
that $ett( I&$eriu&/s de#line)
In the lnger ter&+ e!en i* Ful%ra were !i#trius+ Sig&atus
wuld surel( %e lst t Chas) The nl( thing that #uld $s,
si%l( $re!ent that was t restre #nta#t with the I&$eriu& ,
and Ragan Bal%erith was $ain*ull( well aware * the *a#t that
the windw * $$rtunit( that had re#entl( %een $ened %(
the re#ent a%ate&ent * the war$str& &ight nt %e $en !er(
lng)
There was+ * #urse+ anther danger+ whi#h the Chie*
In2uisitr *elt as 'eenl( as an( &an4 the danger that i* he &an,
aged t alert the real I&$eriu& t the state * a**airs n
Sig&atus the res$nse &ight %e an rder * E-ter&inatus)
Bal%erith was+ hwe!er+ ne * !er( *ew &en le*t in the l#al
I&$eriu& wh #uld a##e$t that *ate with $hils$hi#al resig,
natin i* it were dee&ed ne#essar()
Perha$s+ Bal%erith thught+ that was the danger n the
$riest/s &ind as he #ntinued t hesitate+ with the $hial #n,
taining the drug in his hand , %ut it see&ed unli'el() The
$riest was the 'ind * &an wh was &re easil( *rightened %(
%!ius $ssi%ilities) Unli'e the $s('er+ the $riest was a hal*,
%reed) There was nthing in their na&es t indi#ate the
di**eren#e , the $s('er/s na&e was 7eir A.a , %ut it was real
ne!ertheless)
In *a#t+ Bal%erith thught+ that &ight well %e the real rt *
the $r%le&) The shi$s that had landed n Sig&atus tw hun,
dred (ears %e*re had %een sent n an in!estigati!e &issin)
The( had %een well,sta**ed with sldiers and *un#tinaries *
the Ade$tus Terra+ %ut their #rews had %een ninet( $er #ent
&ale) The sldiers had le*t an a%undan#e * des#endants+ %ut
nine hundred and ninet(,nine ut * e!er( thusand nw li!,
ing had at least ne a%riginal &ther in their %ldline) The
Ade$tus Terra had %een &re #are*ul+ %ut there was a li&it t
what #autin #uld a#hie!e when the riginal %reeding,st#'
had %een s li&ited) The se#nd $ure,%red generatin had
%een *i*t(,$er #ent *e&ale+ and s had e!er( generatin sin#e+
%ut the li&itatin * the riginal st#' had %een t se!ere)
The /i&&igrant #&&unit(/+ a##rding t its usual de*initin+
was less than a tenth $ure,%red3 the rest were hal*,%reeds , and
the !ast &a.rit( * the &arginal &ass * *ighting,&en and
$ri!ileged ser!ants had n &re than an eighth r a si-teenth
* authenti# I&$erial %ld) The $riest had nl( a 2uarter)
/7 it+/ Bal%erith #&&anded+ sternl()
Al$alha #uld nt 'ee$ hesitating *re!er+ and he 'new it)
The $riest *inall( #ndes#ended t e-tend his s'inn( ar& s
that the #law,li'e hand $ut the $hial t the $s('er/s li$s) The
$s('er/s e(es were #lsed+ althugh he did nt a$$ear t %e
aslee$+ %ut when the ri& * the little %ttle &ade #nta#t with
his *lesh he li*ted his head slightl(+ a!id t drin')
The $s('er was alread( in the unsettling tran#e,state *stered
and re*ined %( the drug) His senses were nw unres$nsi!e t
that tin( *ra#tin * the &undane wrld that was #n*ined in
the &n'ish #ell+ %ut the( were %e#&ing highl( attenti!e t
the ther wrlds that e-isted in $arallel t the di&ensin *
nr&al s$a#e,ti&e)
In s&e * thse ther di&ensins+ Bal%erith had %een
assured %( his tea#hers+ sight was s re&ar'a%l( aug&ented
that a &an &ight see #lear a#rss the !id t l' ut u$n the
wrlds * ther stars) 8re i&$rtantl(+ the &anner in whi#h
a &an #uld s$ea' his thughts silentl( within the $ri!a#( *
his wn head was s re&ar'a%l( aug&ented that he #uld
s$ea' thse thughts dire#tl( int the &ind * anther+ and
hear thughts that were s$'en int his *r& thusands+ &il,
lins r %illins * &iles awa()
That was what was re2uired) This $ure,%red $s('er had t
&a'e #nta#t with thers * his wn 'ind+ $re*era%l( ,
althugh the ne#essit( was nt a%slute , a%ard a shi$ * the
I&$erial Fleet that was #lse enugh t Sig&atus t rea#h it in
a &atter * hurs)
The $s('er dran'+ and the r& grew #ld) The $hial in
Al$alha/s hand #ra#'ed+ and the $riest laid it dwn lest it
shuld shatter) The $riest/s hand was shi!ering *uriusl(+ as i* it
were %eing sha'en %( s&e e-ternal *r#e) Bal%erith *elt a *ris,
sn see$ thrugh his wn %d(+ #ausing his %ld t seethe in
his !eins and unusual e&tins t stir in his heart) He *ught
*r sel*,#ntrl)
The $s('er 'new what was re2uired * hi&+ althugh
Bal%erith had ne!er %een at all sure that 'nwing what was
re2uired was &re li'el( t enhan#e the #han#es * su##ess
than t di&inish the&)
As the drug t' e**e#t the $s('er s *a#e %egan t #ntrt)
Sweat %egan t 1e *r& the $res * his *rehead and #hee's+
and his e(e%alls *luttered wildl( %ehind his #lsed lids) Cair
Al$alha raised a tre&ulus ar& t his wn *a#e+ s that the
slee!e #uld &$ his nse , %ut it was %ld+ nt snt+ that
stained the #lth)
/I tld (u s+/ &uttered the terri*ied $riest+ withut the least
hint * sel*,satis*a#tin) /All (u/!e dne is e-$se hi& t the
hellwrids)/
Bal%erith had lng sus$e#ted that the war$str& en#lsing
Sig&atus was a strangel( deli#ate thing) The e!il $ainter * des,
tin( wrshi$$ed %( the a%rigine #!en,&asters see&ed t
hi& t %e using the lightest * all his %rushes u$n it+ t #reate
intri#ate and elusi!e e**e#ts whse su%tlet( $r%a%l( #uld nt
%e a$$re#iated %( an( &ere &rtal) Althugh the wrld was n
the *ringes * the s,#alled E(e * Terrr it had ne!er %een su%,
.e#ted t the garish e**e#ts whi#h legend attri%uted t the
wrlds that a#tuall( la( within the E(e) It was+ hwe!er+ dse
enugh *r wise,drea&ers t gli&$se thse un*rtunate wrlds
*ar &re *re2uentl( and *ar &re re!ealingl( than the &(riad
wrlds * the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind)
/Hellwrld/ was a ntin whi#h #ertainl( had nt %een *i,
gtten %( the in2uisitrs * Sig&atus3 nr had its signi*i#an#e
%een lst)
I&&igrant $s('ers had s&eti&es %een dri!en &ad %( su#h
sights) Wrlds where the at&s$here was $er&anentl( a*la&e
and wrlds whse #eans * %ld were ali!e were * little rel,
e!an#e t hu&an'ind+ *r the li*e the( su$$rted was entirel(
alien+ and wrlds s#ul$ted in the *r& * s#rea&ing hu&anid
heads were &ere #s&i# s#are#rws+ %ut there were ther
hellwrlds where #reatures $ssessed * &inds and suls #uld
e-ist+ and did e-ist+ in $er$etual tr&ent)
Bal%erith had ne!er %een entirel( sure hw that #uld ha$,
$en) Surel( a #reature sha$ed %( natural sele#tin *r li*e in a
wrld that see&ed hellish t a hu&an %eing wuld %e ada$ted
&entall( as well as $h(si#all( t its en!irn&ent+ s that l#al
#nditins wuld see& $er*e#tl( nr&al+ distressing nl(
when the( stra(ed twards ha1ardus e-tre&es6 E!en i* su#h a
#reature/s $ain res$nses were $er&anentl( e-#ited+ hw lng
#uld $ain endure %e*re it %e#a&e a *a&iliar as$e#t * e-$eri,
en#e+ i&$tent %( !irtue * its e!er$resen#e6
Alas+ the E(e * Terrr was $art * the E&$ire * Chas+ and
#&&n sense was useless in its a$$raisal) There were du%t,
less &atters whi#h nl( the E&$err * 8an'ind hi&sel* was
$ri!ileged t #&$rehend)
Bal%erith nudged Carr Al$alha with his 'nee t indi#ate
that the $riest shuld &a'e r& *r hi& , whi#h the 2ui!er,
ing $riest did+ des$ite the narrwness * the s$a#e t whi#h he
was #n*ined) Bal%erith 'nelt %eside hi&+ and t' the $s('er/s
hand in his wn) The hand was li&$ and *e!erish+ %ut %( n
&eans unres$nsi!e) The $s('er/s tran#e had nt &ade hi&
an( less e-#ita%le , 2uite the re!erse) The !er( air arund hi&
was %eginning t #ra#'le+ as i* his %d( were $ssessed * a
*ier( in!isi%le aura) When Bal%erith e-erted $ressure with his
*ingers the $ressure was i&r$ ediatel( e#hed)
/Listen t &e+ 7eir+/ Bal%erith said+ sti*ling the hrrr that
*lwed *r& the ther/s hand int his wn %eing) The hell,
wrlds are a $s(#hdra&a , an entran#ing #rru$tin+ $sted
at the inter*a#e * the di&ensins t distra#t the $ure in &ind
and heart) 9u d nt need t l' at the&+ and (u d nt
need t *#us n the& i* (u d #han#e t l') 9u ha!e t
l' %e(nd the&) N &atter what the Chas,wrshi$$ers #all
their rgue $s('ers+ (u are the nl( drea&er n Sig&atus wh
#an %e re#'ned trul( wise+ and (u &ust use (ur wisd&) I*
an( $art * the Fleet is near%(+ (u &ust *ind the shi$s , and
when (u ha!e *und the&+ (u &ust &a'e #nta#t with their
guiding &inds) We need t 'nw whether the( are aware * ur
$light , and i* the( are nt+ we &ust &a'e the& aware * it)/
Bal%erith wasn/t #ertain that his wrds #uld $enetrate the
%arriers that had %een ere#ted %etween the $s('er/s drea&ing
#ns#iusness and the regular di&ensin+ %ut he 'new that it
#uld d n har& t sa( the& alud) He *elt that the s$ee#h
wr'ed t his %ene*it+ e!en i* it had n e**e#t at all n the &an
adri*t a&ng the di&ensins+ haunted %( hellwrlds)
Perha$s the wrds did ha!e an e**e#t+ %e#ause the e(es &!,
ing %ehind the #lsed lids were n lnger ra&ing s *er!entl(+
and the sweat e!a$rating *r& the *a#e was n lnger %eing
re$la#ed 2uite s $r*usel() Indeed+ the entran#ed &an see&ed
t %e tr(ing t shut his e(es e!en &re *ir&l(+ s#rewing the&
u$ as i* in #n#entratin) He was un&ista'a%l( awa'e and
a#ti!e+ *r his whle %d( nw see&ed t %e alight with strange
#ns#iusness) The walls * the #ell were wee$ing+ and s was
Carr Al$alha , %ut the $riest/s tears were $in')
/He/s tr(ing+/ Bal%erith whis$ered t his stri#'en #&$anin)
/Pra( *r his su##ess)/
/I a&+/ the $riest assured hi&+ s$ea'ing thrugh gritted teeth)
The $s('er/s li$s %egan t stir+ as i* he were tr(ing t s$ea' ,
%ut n wrds were audi%le and Bal%erith #uld nt read the
s'et#hil( ill,*r&ed &!e&ents * the li$s)
/Luder+ 7eir+/ he &uttered) /Luder+ r &re $re#ise)/ The
hrrr that *lwed ut * the drea&er had #hanged its 2ualit(
nw4 it was &re su%tle+ less %rutal) Lgi#all(+ it shuld ha!e
%een less intense+ %ut it did nt see& s)
Bal%erith had t e-ert e!en &re &ental *r#e t 2uell the
$ani# that was tr(ing t ta'e hld * hi&) He *elt that the !es,
sels *eeding his heart were tr(ing t tie the&sel!es in intri#ate
'nts)
The drea&ing $s('ers * Sig&atus were *ten in#a$a%le *
*r&ing sunds+ and their users had t %e highl(,s'illed li$,
readers) Un*rtunatel(+ the $s('ers were *ten in#a$a%le *
#larit( when the( were &i&ing+ and e!en the &st e-$ert read,
ers s&eti&es $rdu#ed gar%led a##unts * what the( were
tr(ing t sa() Bal%erith did nt 'nw whether this was a uni,
!erse,wide $r%le& r s&e *rea' * l#al #ir#u&stan#e)
Graduall(+ thugh+ the *lutter * A.a/s li$s %e#a&e #al&er
and &re de*inite)
/Sig&atus+/ Bal%erith read+ aided %( the &ur&urus sunds
s$illing *r& the $s('er/s la#erated li$s) /Castawa(s)))
Assi&ilated))) War #ntinuing))) Pssi%ilit( * rede&$tin)))
7anger))) Landing &a( %e *easi%le))) Te&$rar( %lin')))
7anger))) Re&ain n hld))) 7anger))) Balan#e * $r%a%ili,
ties))) 7anger))) He/s thrugh+ Cair) He/s thrugh) Tell the&+
7eir) 8a'e the& hear (u) Tell the& that we need hel$ , that
the wrld needs the& des$eratel(+ %ut that e!er(thing wuld
%e well i* nl( we had their *ire$wer and their s$iritual lead,
ershi$) Tell the& that we need rein*r#e&ents4 S$a#e 8arines+
in2uisitrs) Tell the& that the e#hes * the I&$eriu& that still
endure here deser!e su$$rt and sal!atin) 8a'e the& hear0
8a'e the& see0 A !i#tr( &ight (et %e wn here+ i* the( #an
nl( a#t swi*tl( and well)/
Bal%erith had n wa( * 'nwing whether A.a #uld hear
hi&+ r whether the $s('er was #a$a%le * *llwing the
instru#tin+ %ut he needed h$e as &u#h as he needed *aith)
He was+ a*ter all+ surrunded %( ene&ies+ in#luding &an( *
thse wh were su$$sed t %e his #lsest #lla%ratrs) He
needed rein*r#e&ents t hel$ his wn in2uisitrs and $riests
against Orl# 8el#arth+ as well as rein*r#e&ents t hel$ lerius
Ful%ra against the sr#erers * Gul1a#andra) 8st * all+ he
needed the h$e that su#h rein*r#e&ents &ight #&e+ and
that the( &ight #&e in ti&e)
7eir A.a/s li$s were &!ing again+ %ut the( were nt tr(ing
t $rnun#e wrds) The( were indi#ating $ain and sre dis,
tress) There were tears * %ld lea'ing *r& the #&ers * the
$s('er/s s#rewed,u$ e(es and his tre&rs were turning int a
*ull,s#ale *it)
/He/s !er the edge+/ Al$alha said+ while urgentl( &$$ing
his wn *a#e with an e-tre&el( unstead( hand) /He/s *alling) We
ha!e t tr( t %ring hi& ut)/
/Nt while he/s s #lse+/ Bal%erith said+ thrugh gritted teeth)
The walls * the #ell were shi!ering *e!erishl(+ dis$la(ing a rit
* #lur that n hu&an hand ar&ed with a $aint,%rush #uld
e!er ha!e #ntri!ed , %ut there were+ alas+ n reada%le gra**iti)
Bal%erith 'new+ in an( #ase+ that tr(ing was all that he and
the $riest #uld d) There was n antidte t the a%riginal
drug+ and a $s('er/s tran#e,state was nt the 'ind * altered
#ns#iusness that #uld %e %anished %( &ere sha'ing) A.a
was tra$$ed+ a $risner * his wn strange nature) I* he *ell
within his wa'ing drea&+ he was the ne wh had t st$ the
*all) His innate wisd& was the nl( &eans %( whi#h he #uld
a#2uire the 'ind * wings that wuld let hi& *l(+ r the 'ind *
lightness that wuld let hi& *lat)
But the hand that Bal%erith had gri$$ed was nw gri$$ing
Bal%erith/s *ier#el(+ taut with des$eratin)
/C&e n+ 7eir+/ Bal%erith said) Ta'e #ntrl) 9u ha!e t
ta'e #ntrl)/
Un*rtunatel(+ it see&ed t %e the #ase that n drea&er+
hwe!er wise+ was s'il*ul enugh t $ilt his wn drea&)
Perha$s+ Bal%erith thught+ anther thusand (ears * I&$erial
d&inin !er the gala-( wuld $rdu#e a $urer and &re
#are*ul %reed * $s('er than an(thing wild and #rru$ted
Chas #uld e!er $rdu#e , %ut that ti&e had nt (et #&e)
The tears * %ld #ntinued t *lw+ and it was %!ius that
the e(es *li#'ering *r& side t side %ehind the s#rewed,u$ lids
were l'ing int s&e srt * hell , $erha$s a 'ind * hell *ar
wrse than an( &ere wrld a*la&e r sea * %iling %ld)
The $s('er/s #&$le-in had alwa(s %een un#&&nl( $ale+
e!en *r a $ure%red i&&igrant+ %ut it was $a$er,white nw+
The tra#'s * his tears l'ed li'e a line ins#ri%ed in red in'+
writing the histr( * #i!ili1atin n Sig&atus in a lng,lst
language lder than the wrld itsel*)
Bal%erith/s $ririties had shi*ted nw) As he returned the
!i#e,li'e gri$ * the slee$ing &an/s right hand he %egan t
whis$er a new and *ar si&$ler set * instru#tins int the
$s('er/s ear)
/7n/t die+/ he #&&anded) /Hld n) 7n/t die) Li!e t
drea& anther da() 7n/t die) Tr( t slee$) 7n/t die) Clse
(ur inner e(es and (ur inner ears t all the te&$tatins *
the ene&() C&e h&e) And a%!e all else+ dn/t die0/
He #uld nl( h$e that it wuld %e enugh)
T&rrw wuld %e anther da( , and t&rrw &ight nt
%e t late t win sal!atin+ *r hi&sel* i* nt *r the wrld *
his %irth) 7es$erate ti&es re2uired des$erate &easures+ and
Ragan Bal%erith was 'eenl( aware * his wn des$eratin)
<
NINE
IT WAS =ER9 dar' at *irst %eneath the tru#') Hal* a d1en sear#h,
lights had %een 2ui#'l( swit#hed n+ s that their %ea&s #uld
swee$ %a#' and *rth a#rss the dense !egetatin surrunding
the $l+ %ut that nl( &ade the shadw in whi#h 7athan and
H(#illa la( see& all the dee$er) 7athan #uldn/t see H(#illa/s
*a#e+ %ut he was #ertain that she was at least hal*,entran#ed) She
wasn/t still+ %ut her &!e&ents were s$as&di# and un#,
rdinated3 she &ade n atte&$t t &!e int a $sitin *r&
whi#h she #uld see a little &re * what was ha$$ening)
Perha$s she had a #learer !iew with her e(es shut+ he
thught) Perha$s+ whether #ns#iusl( r nt+ it was she wh
had unleashed the *r#es that were %lasting and harassing the
ha$less sldiers+ wh #learl( did nt 'nw whi#h wa( t turn
t *ind an ene&( at whi#h the( #uld *ire %a#')
7athan had n inner sight t rel( n+ s he s#ra&%led *r,
wards in a $rne $sitin+ li*ting his head until it %u&$ed n
the tru#'/s *rnt a-le,husing+ then raising it again as sn as
he had wr'ed his wa( $ast the %sta#le)
There was nt a great deal he #uld see withut a#tuall( #&,
ing ut * hiding , and he had n intentin * e-$sing
hi&sel* t gun*ire , %ut he #uld see s&ething * what the
sldiers n the grund were ding) The( were #ru#hing dwn+
'ee$ing al&st as lw as he was+ while the gunners n the
tru#'s *ired !er their heads) He #uld see the white tra#es *
&issiles 1&ing int the %ushes+ %ut these weren/t li'e .ude(e
trees and the( didn/t e-$lde) Fires were started in hal* a d1en
$la#es+ %ut the( see&ed relu#tant t start and e!en &re relu#,
tant t #ntinue) The( s&uldered #ri&sn r %lue+ e&itting
thi#' #luds * a#rid s&'e+ %ut the( didn/t *lare u$ and there
didn/t see& t %e an( danger * the entire area %eing #aught u$
in an unst$$a%le #n*lagratin li'e the ne that had de!as,
tated the .ude(e *rest)
7athan #uldn/t see an( !isi%le sign * returning *ire4 n
&u11le,*lashes+ n saring arrws+ n %ea&s * natural light)
What he #uid see+ thugh+ was that the sldiers n the grund
were ta'ing #asualties)
He saw ne &an rlling n the grund with his e(es %ug,
ging ut * his head+ *a&ing at the &uth as i* his %rain
were %iling in his s'ull) The &an was %!iusl( tr(ing t
%ring hi&sel* t a halt+ %e#ause he was s#ra%%ling at the
grund with his hands with su#h urgen#( that he was tearing
his wn *ingernails awa( *r& the 2ui#'+ and (et it see&ed t
7athan that it was his wn &us#les that were #ausing hi& t
rll !er)
In stri'ing #ntrast+ anther &an was %lt u$right+ standing
t attentin with astnishing rigidit( , sa!e nl( *r his ar&s+
whi#h were &!ing !er( slwl( t re!erse the dire#tin * the
wea$n he held in his tw hands+ %ringing the %arrel * the las,
ri*le slwl( %ut ine-ra%l( twards his head)
Nt until the %arrel was aligned did the &an $en his &uth
and slide the &u11le %etween his #ha$$ed li$s and (ellwed
teeth) 7athan #uld see his e(es 2uite #learl(+ althugh n light
was shining dire#tl( u$n the&+ and he #uld read the terrr
in the& as the sldier/s *inger+ thugh %ent at an e-#ru#iating
angle+ %egan t tighten n the trigger * his gun)
7athan saw anther &an #at#h *ire+ as i* a ta$er had %een
a$$lied t s&e &(sterius *use within his a%d&en) Little .ets
* *la&e were %ursting ut * the sldier/s s'in and %urning
hles in his uni*r&) He+ unli'e the thers+ was *ree t s#rea&+
and he t' *ull ad!antage * the $$rtunit()
7(ing 2uietl( was nt+ it see&ed+ a dignit( that &an( &en
#uld &aintain)
This is &agi#+ 7athan thught) This is the wa( it is su$$sed
t %e) This is the *ate that ught t %e*all in!aders wh #a&e as
these &en #a&e+ t slaughter the inn#ents * Gul1a#andra) He
'new that he ught t %e delighted+ r e!en e-ultant , %ut it
see&ed that he t &ust %e #aught %( a 'ind * s$ell+ %e#ause
all he *elt was si#') 7athan was in#a$a%le * hating an(ne r
an(thing &re than he hated these &en+ %ut the sight * their
d(ing hrri*ied hi&) I* H(#illa reall( is res$nsi%le *r this+ he
thught+ thin'ing hi&sel* a traitr *r thin'ing it+ then I wish
that she wuld st$)
On re*le#tin+ hwe!er+ 7athan re.e#ted the idea that H(#illa
&ight %e res$nsi%le) N &atter hw ra$idl( her $rgress as a
wise,drea&er had %een a##elerated %( the e!ents * the $re!i,
us da(+ she #uld nt $ssi%l( ha!e turned int a sr#erer) In
an( #ase+ nne * the tales that 7athan had heard * the &st
$wer*ul sr#erers wh had e!er li!ed had in#luded s#enes li'e
this) Whate!er was at wr' here was surel( &re than hu&an)
An es#alatin * &re distant s#rea&ing assured 7athan that
the &en n the tru#'s had n $rte#tin *r& this 'ind *
assault) The *ire $uring *r& the %ig guns &unted n the
&a#hines %e#a&e in#reasingl( rand& as the sldiers/ situa,
tin %e#a&e &re des$erate)
S&ene was shuting rders+ tr(ing t rganise the *iring,
$attern t #!er the whle * the surrunding area+ %ut the
res$nse was distin#tl( une!en)
7athan #re$t a #u$le * in#hes *urther *rward+ drawn %(
#urisit(+ %ut H(#illa suddenl( gra%%ed hi& rund the waist
and $ulled hi& %a#')
This wa(0/ she hissed) /N ti&e0 We sta(+ we die0/
7athan realised that %( /this wa(/ she &eant that the( were
t &!e t the le*t) She was alread( n that side+ s she s#ra&,
%led ut *r& under the tru#' *irst+ $lu#'ing at his shirt in
rder t &a'e hi& *llw her) 7athan didn/t 'nw whether
she was entran#ed r nt+ %ut he had n ideas * his wn and
the assuran#e that the( wuld %th die i* the( sta(ed where
the( were rang all t true) Whate!er was 'illing the sldiers
didn/t see& t need a #lear sight * the&3 death+ li'e the s&'e
* the relu#tant *ires+ was in the air)
There see&ed t %e n alternati!e %ut t run+ trusting t lu#'
t $reser!e the& against the atta#'ers and de*enders ali'e ,
e-#e$t that running was nt what H(#illa had in &ind) Instead
* haring ** int ?he night as *ast as her legs #uld #arr( her
she turned n her heel and gr$ed *r the handle * the dr
that wuld let her int the *rnt $art * the tru#' , the $art that
was $resu&a%l( e2ui!alent t the dri!er/s %en#h * a #art)
7athan didn/t su$$se that there was an(ne in the dri!er/s
#!ert+ %ut it didn/t see& t hi& t %e a sa*e $la#e n that
a##unt) I* the raised sides * the tru#'/s rear #uldn/t $rte#t
the artiller(&en &anning the %ig gun+ the trans$arent shield in
*rnt * the dri!er/s seat was hardl( li'el( t %e a%le t ward **
the &align *r#e that was wrea'ing ha!# in the sldiers/ &idst)
As sn as H(#illa had the dr $en+ thugh+ she lea$t u$
int the #!ert and rea#hed %a#' t **er 7athan the su$$rt *
her ar&) He t' her hand and #la&%ered u$ %ehind her)
B( the ti&e he gt in+ H(#iila had alread( s#ra&%led a#rss
t set hersel* in the *urther seat * a &at#hing $air+ %ehind the
%ig wheel that was the #a%/s &st $r&inent internal *eature)
/But (u #an/t wr' a thing li'e this0/ 7athan said+ *lishl()
He had alwa(s 'nwn that su#h things as tru#'s e-isted+ and
had heard des#ri$tins * the& *r& $e$le wh had a#tuall(
seen the&+ %ut n su#h des#ri$tin #uld ha!e $re$ared hi&
*r the realit( * %eing inside ne) This #n*ined s$a#e
see&ed t hi& t %e an utterl( &(sterius and $r*undl(
alien en!irn&ent , %ut when H(#illa turned twards hi& t
tell hi& t %e 2uiet she didn/t need wrds) Her e(es were large
and lu&inus+ %rightl( lit %( &ist re*le#tins e!en thugh
the $u$ils were widel( dilated) Her li$s were *r&ed int a
*er#ius snarl+ &a'ing her n#e,l!el( *a#e int a hideus
#ari#ature)
There was a le!er sti#'ing u$ *r& the *lr * the tru#'
%etween her seat and the ne int whi#h 7athan had settled+
and H(#illa was alread( wren#hing it %a#' and *rth as the
tru#'/s engine rared int li*e) As sn as the wheels %egan t
turn she s$un the wheel that $resu&a%l( ser!ed &u#h the
sa&e *un#tin as a guiding,rein+ *r#ing the !ehi#le int a tight
ar# that #arried it awa( t the le*t)
There were tw sldiers l(ing $rne in *rnt * the tru#'/s
new #urse) The( lea$t t their *eet+ %ut nl( ne was stu$id
enugh t tr( t signal t the dri!er+ i&$lring rather than
#&&anding her t halt) The ther &an was #ntent t thrw
hi&sel* ut * the !ehi#le/s $ath , whi#h sa!ed hi& *r& %eing
run dwn)
E!en i* the dri!er had %een ne * his wn &en+ 7athan
thught+ the dead sldier had %een a *l t thin' that he
wuld st$ in a situatin li'e this) E!en as he *r&ed that
thught he realised that theirs was nt the nl( !ehi#le that
had #&e t li*e) Whether a retreat had %een rdered r nt+
&en wh had seen the &anner in whi#h their #&$anins
were d(ing had e!identl( de#ided that an( ther $la#e in the
wilderness was a %etter $la#e t %e than the en!irns * the
$l)
That/s gd+ 7athan thught) The( wn/t 'nw it/s us) The(
wn/t #hase us)
He wrried+ thugh+ a%ut what &ight %e ging n i&&edi,
atel( %ehind the&) Hw &an( ar&ed &en were in the %a#' *
the tru#'6 What wea$ns did the( ha!e6 And what wuld the(
d when the( *und ut wh it was that had a%stra#ted the&
*r& the %attle*ield6
H(#illa was in n #nditin t #nsider su#h ni#eties) She
was s$inning the wheel again+ sending the tru#' int anther+
entirel( di**erent ar#) 7athan had alread( lst tra#' * where
the $l was+ and wndered whether she &ight ha!e had t
turn s suddenl( in rder t a!id dri!ing straight int it) She
was &a'ing n atte&$t t sti#' t %etter grund+ and there was
nthing !isi%le thrugh the winds#reen %ut the #rwns *
%ushes and e-ti# *lwers , a !erita%le tide * !egetatin that
see&ed t hurl itsel* *rward and di!e dwn %eneath the !ehi,
#le with re#'less ala#rit()
It was an $ti#al illusin+ * #urse3 it was the !ehi#le that
was &!ing+ &wing dwn the !egeta%le *lesh as it went+
lur#hing &adl( *r& side t side as it %un#ed !er the %ases
* #lustered ste&s)
7athan heard the sunds * $e$le , r $erha$s inani&ate
%.e#ts * s&e unidenti*ia%le 'ind , %eing thrwn a%ut in
the %a#' * the tru#'+ i&$a#ting with ea#h * the raised sides)
There was n indi#atin that the gun &unted in the %a#' was
still %eing *ired)
There were n &re sldiers t %e seen nw+ %ut the e!iden#e
* their $resen#e was all arund+ in %illws * s&'e and lines
* he#ti# light s#rawled u$n the sur*a#e * the starr( s'()
/O$en the dr0/ H(#illa s#rea&ed at hi&) /8!e !er0/
7athan didn/t understand) He wuld ha!e as'ed wh(+ %ut as
sn as he l'ed twards her with the 2uestin in his e(es she
l'ed twards hi& , and what there was in her e(es was de*,
initel( nt #ndu#i!e t as'ing 2uestins) It was an rder that
$er&itted n dissent)
Hel$lessl(+ 7athan *elt his hand sht ut *r& his side t
gra$$le with the dr,#at#h) He had ne!er en#untered ne
li'e it+ s it re2uired a *ew se#nds * ine-$ert ru&%ling+ %ut in
the end he &anaged t s$ring the #at#h and hurl the dr $en
, and then+ withut an( $ause *r thught r rein*r#e&ent *
the #&&and he &!ed !er int the narrw ga$ %etween the
tw seats)
Fr a &&ent+ 7athan #uld nt %elie!e that there was an(,
ne in the wrld agile enugh t lea$ n %ard the #areering
tru#'+ r an(ne %ra!e enugh t tr() His s#e$ti#is& #uld nt
endure+ hwe!er+ when a hu&an *igure did e-a#tl( that+ lea$ing
ut * the nrushing !egetatin t land sure,*tedl( n the
*lr * the tru#'+ ar&s e-tended t #at#h the side and t$ *
the dr *ra&e+ s that a single *luid &!e&ent &ight deli!er
the slender %d( int the s$a#e that 7athan had #leared)
The new#&er #lsed the dr hi&sel*) He said nthing at
all+ %ut H(#illa %!iusl( 'new well enugh what t d with,
ut !er%al instru#tin) She was s$inning the wheel (et again+
hurling the tru#' int an ar# s tight that it #a&e u$ n tw
wheels) 7athan was s#ared that it &ight ti$ !er+ %ut the *ear
was insu**i#ient t !erride his astnish&ent as he stared at
their new $assenger)
It was a %(+ see&ingl( n lder than hi&sel*) The %( was
star' na'ed+ and his s'in was *aintl( %ut strangel( $atterned)
His $h(si2ue did nt see& $arti#ularl( re&ar'a%le+ althugh
the a$$earan#e had t %e de#e$ti!e+ gi!en the a&a1ing g(&,
nasti# tri#' he had .ust $er*r&ed+ s it was his *a#e that
attra#ted and held 7athan/s attentin)
It was getting &u#h dar'er inside the tru#' nw that the(
were heading awa( *r& all the lights+ %ut it see&ed t 7athan
that the $arti#ular dar'ness within the new#&er/s e(es was n
&ere shadw) His ears were als unusual4 the( were $inted
and tu*ted+ li'e the ears * a wl*- r a s#ru%l(n-)
E!en in the !illage+ whi#h was said t %e un#&&nl( lu#'(
in su#h &atters+ *rea' %irths s&eti&es ##urred) 7athan had
%een allwed t l' at dead ani&als with see&ingl( hu&an
*eatures+ %ut he had nl( heard hushed whis$ers regarding
hu&an %a%ies with ani&al *eatures whi#h had had t %e ta'en
awa() This was the *irst ti&e that he had %een near a hu&an
with ani&al stig&ata)
/Wh are (u6/ 7athan &anaged t stutter+ when he gt his
%reath %a#')
/9OU and (u+> was the %(/s #r($ti# re$l( , and as he s$'e
he rea#hed ut with %th ar&s twards his sa!iurs) The lng
*ingers * his right hand tu#hed H(#illa/s *rehead+ while the
'nu#'les * his le*t rested %rie*l( n 7athan/s #hee') 7athan
*elt a strange thrill $ass thrugh hi&) It wasn/t $ain*ul+ %ut it
wasn/t $leasant either3 he *elt as i* s&e 'ind * thread had
wund itsel* arund his heart)
What/s (ur na&e6/ 7athan as'ed+ in #ase the %( hadn/t
understd the *irst 2uestin)
/7n/t 'nw) T tired+> was the nl( re$l( he re#ei!ed)
E!en in the near,dar'ness+ 7athan sensed that the astnish,
ing e(es were alread( hal*,#lsed) The %( slu&$ed in his seat+
his strange head , tu*ted ears and all , #&ing t rest u$n
7athan/s shulder) 7athan did nt dare t shrug hi& **+ r
e!en t run the ris' * in#n!enien#ing hi& %( turning his
head t l' twards H(#illa+ %ut he #uld and did 'ee$ sta&,
&ering awa()
/Wh is he6 H(#illa6 What is this6 What/s ha$$ening6/
/7n/t 'nw+/ said H(#illa/s !i#e+ li'e an eerie e#h) T
tired)/
But she+ at least+ wasn/t *alling aslee$) She 'e$t right n dri,
!ing+ hurling the tru#' thrugh the night)
The( were heading ut int the wilderness nw+ and the
grund was &re e!en) The tide * !egetatin n lnger
see&ed t %e hurling itsel* sui#idall( %eneath their wheels)
The light * the headla&$s allwed the& t see s&ething *
where the( were ging+ althugh the tru#' was surel( ging
*ar t *ast t %e a%le t st$ in ti&e i* s&e %stru#tin sud,
denl( l&ed u$ ut * the night within the headla&$s/
s$an)
/Uh h0/ said H(#illa/s !i#e+ suddenl() It reall( did sund
li'e H(#illa/s !i#e+ althugh 7athan #uldn/t %e entirel( #er,
tain that she was the ne in #harge * her ar&s and legs)
7athan #uldn/t turn arund+ %ut *r& where he sat in the
&iddle * the tru#'/s seat he #uld l' int the &irrr that
was $sitined a%!e his head t allw the dri!er t l' %a#'
thrugh the $rtal in the %a#' * the #a%) He #uldn/t see
an(thing %ut lights+ %ut that was enugh t tell hi& that the
tru#' was %eing *llwed , r $erha$s $ursued)
The lights were t %right t %e &ere headla&$s+ 7athan
#n#luded) He reasned+ there*re+ that the s$tlight n the
%a#' * the *llwing tru#' had t %e wr'ing+ and it was
trained n their wn tru#') Whi#h &eant that the gun
&unted n the %a#' * the ther tru#' was $r%a%l( wr'ing
t+ and $r%a%l( trained n the target that the sear#hlight had
$i#'ed ut) Whi#h $r%a%l( &eant that i* an(ne n the ther
tru#' had seen the na'ed %( lea$ a%ard+ r had an( ther
reasn t %e #n*ident that it wasn/t %eing dri!en %( an
I&$erial sldier+ the three * the& $r%a%l( nl( had as lng
t li!e as it wuld ta'e an( I&$erial sldiers le*t n the %a#' *
their wn tru#' t .u&$ #lear))) whi#h the( had $r%a%l(
alread( dne)))
7athan stared int the &irrr ra$tl(+ e!en thugh there was
nthing t %e seen %ut da11ling light) The hairs n the %a#' *
his ne#' were standing u$)
Then the da11ling light %e#a&e e!en &re da11ling) The &ir,
rr see&ed t *lare u$+ as i* it were itsel* a %u%%le *
in#andes#ent gas)
I/& dead+ 7athan thught+ althugh he 'new that it was
a%surd t thin' it)
He wasn/t dead) The gun &unted n the $ursuing tru#'
hadn/t *ired , r i* it had+ it had &is*ired) The gun &unted n
the $ursuing tru#' had e-$lded+ and the tru#' itsel* had %een
%lasted t s&ithereens %( the *r#e * the e-$lsin)
The sh#'wa!e tilted their wn tru#'+ %ut didn/t ti$ it !er)
/Uh h0/ said H(#illa/s !i#e) 7athan had ne!er realised
%e*re what a wealth * hidden &eanings a $hrase su#h as that
&ight %e a%le t #ntain) The nnsensi#al s(lla%les sunded
#&$letel( di**erent the se#nd ti&e arund+ an-iet( and irri,
tatin ha!ing gi!en wa( t triu&$h and a&use&ent) But
7athan realised+ as the tru#' 1&ed n int the dar'ness+ that
the triu&$h had %een #la'ed in weariness+ and the a&use,
&ent in e-haustin) He saw that H(#illa was slu&$ing !er the
wheel nw+ nt e!en l'ing where the tru#' was ging , nt+
at least+ with her e(es)
/H(#illa0/ 7athan said+ uneasil(+ wndering whether he #uld
%ring her %a#' t a nr&al state * %eing , and whether he
shuld i* he #uld)
A*ter all+ he thught+ i* she re#!ered her ld sel* nw she
&ight suddenl( dis#!er that she hadn/t the slightest idea hw
t dri!e an I&$erial !ehi#le+ and nw wuld nt %e the %est
ti&e *r her t &a'e that dis#!er() 7athan de#ided+ n due
re*le#tin+ t 'ee$ 2uiet) I* H(#illa had %een dri!ing in a &agi,
#al tran#e sin#e the( *irst gt int the #a% it was $r%a%l( %est
nt t distur% her)
When a *ew &re &inutes had $assed+ thugh+ the $ressure
* that #hi&eri#al ear u$n 7athan/s shulder+ and the ti#'le *
its elngated hairs against his ne#' %e#a&e un%eara%le) =er(
gentl( and !er( #are*ull(+ he eased the ther %(/s %d( !er t
the right+ s that the strange head e!entuall( shi*ted) It llled
against the %a#' * the seat+ su$$rted t the side %( the *ra&e
* the dr) The $sitin l'ed un#&*rta%le+ %ut nt
un%eara%le)
That allwed 7athan t turn twards H(#illa+ and t wat#h
her as she %alan#ed her head n her 'nu#'les+ while her hands
'e$t the tru#' n a stead( #urse) The #urse in 2uestin t'
the& int dar'ness and the un'nwn+ %ut see&ed ne!ertheless
t ha!e %een #are*ull( $ltted and sele#ted)
The dar'ness did nt last &u#h lnger+ thugh) Within
anther twent( &inutes the s'( %ehind the& a#2uired a sil!er(
glw+ and then the rs( $in' * sunlight re*le#ting ** lw
#lud)
The( were nt heading dire#tl( awa( *r& the as,(et,unrisen
sun+ %ut their #urse was nl( slightl( dis$la#ed t the suth)
The war has %egun+ 7athan thught) ; was $resent at the *irst
%attle+ and the se#nd) I/!e sur!i!ed %th+ withut ta'ing an(
wund wrse than a #&&n,r,garden %ruise) But this is nl(
the %eginning) The sldiers wh atta#'ed the !illage were nu&,
%ered in their hundreds+ the nes in the tru#'s in their d1ens)
When the %ig %attle %egins+ there/ll %e thusands n ea#h side+
and the *ire$wer)))
He realised that his wrld had alread( ended) The !illage had
%een s&ashed) I* the *ields had %een %urned and the well $i,
sned+ it #uld ne!er %e re%uilt) I* his &ther was lu#'(
enugh t %e ali!e+ she wuld %e a h&eless re*ugee lst in the
wasteland) What had ha$$ened t the !illage wuld nw ha$,
$en t the s&aller twns+ and e!entuall( t Cul1a#andra/s
#ities) Whe!er wn+ nthing wuld e!er %e the sa&e) The
wrld wuld %e new+ and li*e wuld %e di**erent)
7athan understd that the adulthd at whi#h his %(,
hd had alwa(s %een ai&ed had %een #an#elled at a str'e+
and he wuld ne!er %e the &an he had alwa(s intended t %e)
He was a *ighter nw+ whether he wanted t %e r nt) He was
an ene&( * the I&$eriu&+ a de*ender * his h&eland) He
&ight li!e r he &ight die %ut the ne thing he #uld ne!er d
was g %a#' t %eing hi&sel*) He was di**erent nw+ and he had
t dis#!er a whle new wa( * %eing)
7athan wat#hed H(#illa/s hands and *eet+ wndering i* he
#uld *igure ut hw t dri!e while he was awa'e) It l'ed
eas( enugh+ %ut s &an( things had l'ed eas( while he
wat#hed thers d the& that had turned ut nt t %e eas( at
all+ when he #a&e t tr( the& *r hi&sel*) He 'new that he
#uldn/t a**rd t entertain #hildish illusins nw that he was
a grwn &an) He l'ed arund again+ t wat#h the dawn
thrugh the rear windw * the #a%)
The $in' #luds e-tended the&sel!es a#rss the s'( li'e the
wings * a giant !ulture , and then the ri& * the sun $ee$ed
!er the *lat and see&ingl( *eatureless $lain+ as i* the s'( had
%een s$lit %( a swrd,thrust t let ut the %ld * the stars)
The stars that shne in the night,s'( were alread( *ading ut+
swallwed u$ %( the !ilet %la1e * da() That %la1e was nt (et
%right enugh t see& uni*r&+ thugh) The #luds that %lis,
tered its *a#e with gre( see&ed as slid as at&eal gruel against
a %a#'grund stirred %( the restlessness * s$a#e itsel*)
7athan had nl( the !aguest ntin * what thse ri$$les
were) He #uld see nthing %ut ine-$li#a%le un#ertaint( , and
he #uld *eel ri$$les * a si&ilar srt within his wn inner
%eing+ stirring his !er( sul)
/Well+/ he &ur&ured+ .ust ludl( enugh t ha!e %een heard
i* an( near%( ear had %een awa'e and attenti!e+ /I su$$se
the(/ll settle+ r the( wn/t) Either wa(+ I/ll ha!e t d the %est ;
#an t &!e in har&n( with the&) I #ertainl( #an/t %anish
the& *r& &( sul)/
TEN
GA=ALON/S RE5ROWN E9E was hurting hrri%l(+ %ut it was nt a
%linding $ain) Cuite the re!erse+ in *a#t) The ther e(e alread(
had %etter night,!isin than rdinar( hu&an e(es , thugh
nt as gd as that $ssessed %( a *ew * his %east&en , %ut
this ne+ $erha$s %( !irtue * %eing grwn %( night+ see&ed t
relish the $arti#ular te-tures * starlight and &nlight)
E!en s+ he had nt %een a%le t 'ee$ the =essel/s *leeting
*r& in !iew n#e he was dwn n the $lain) Ni&ian #uld
ne!er ha!e run s *ast+ and Sathrael had hardl( %egun the
$r#ess * &eta&r$hi# e&ergen#e+ %ut their $e#uliar h(%rid
alread( see&ed t ha!e a#2uired a nu&%er * e-trardinar(
$wers) Ca!aln had a *ew * thse hi&sel*+ %ut &!ing at
great s$eed a#rss $r%le&ati# territr( was nt ne * the&)
E!en %east&en had their $ett( tri#'s+ %ut nne * the hea!il(,
%uilt &e&%ers * his $ersnal retinue #uld run li'e &was)
Ga!aln had n #hi#e+ there*re+ %ut t *llw the =essel at
his wn $a#e+ h$ing that the li&itatins * a %d( that was
still ninet(,*i!e $er #ent Ni&ian wuld #ause the dae&n,t,%e
t $ause *r rest %e*re !er( lng)
The sr#erer had gli&$sed the *lashes * light n the hri1n
while des#ending the sl$e * the runded hill %ut he had %een
una%le t *r& a *ir& #n#lusin as t what the( were) On#e
he was at grund le!el the lights were %s#ured %( !egetatin+
and he did nt see the& again until the *ire*ight %egan+ at
whi#h ti&e the( %e#a&e *ar &re $rli*i#) He guessed i&&e,
diatel( what had ha$$ened)
/I&$eriu& sldiers0/ he hissed t his *llwers) The( &ust
ha!e !ehi#les t ha!e #&e s *ar s *ast) Nt %attle,tan's
i&$rted %( the *irst in!aders+ .ust light tru#'s+ asse&%led in
5ala1endran *a#tries , %ut the(/re still dangerus)/
The nearest %east&an ndded its shagg( head+ %ut Ga!aln
'new that its understanding * the danger was li&ited) The
#reature had ne!er seen a &tr !ehi#le)
Hw s$histi#ated+ Ga!aln wndered+ was Ni&ian,
Sathrael/s understanding * the ene&( he had ra#ed ** t
*ight6 It wuld %e a terri%le traged( i* the nas#ent dae&n
were t lse its =essel %e*re it had a #han#e t de!el$ &re
than a tin( *ra#tin * its $wer) A##rding t the wisest * his
wise,drea&ers+ Sathrael was t %ring a%ut the destru#tin
* Gul1a#andra/s in!aders+ and * 5ala1endra/s #ities+ and
&re))) &re+ a$$arentl(+ than the 7i!ine S#he&er #ared t
re!eal e!en t the &st l(al and de!ted * his wrldl( ser,
!ants)
Ga!aln had t su$$se that i* the 7i!ine S#he&er/s di!ine
s#he&e s&ehw went awr(+ Gul1a#andra wuld su**er+ and s
wuld he) It wuld nt &atter whether r nt there was an(,
thing he #uld d t sa!e the dae&n,t,%e *r& $re&ature
destru#tin while it was+ in e**e#t+ a #n*used in*ant3 he and all
his *llwers wuld still %e held res$nsi%le)
/Wea$ns read(+/ he said t the %east&en+ as the( #ntinued
t hurr( *rward) /A$$ra#h %( stealth) Sei1e guns as and when
(u #an and turn the& n the 5ala1endrans , %ut whate!er
else (u d+ see that n har& #&es t the =essel)/
That was+ he 'new+ *ar easier said than dne , %ut the( wuld
all ha!e t d their ut&st t turn wrds int a#tin)
He had e-$e#ted a *ew &re se#nds t $re$are+ and t sele#t
a $athwa( int the heart * the %attle+ %ut the %attle #a&e t
hi& instead when tw sldiers ran *r& the %ushes+ in *ull
*light *r& an ene&( the( #uld neither see nr nu&%er)
The ene&( sldiers did nt see Ga!aln and the %east&en
either+ at *irst+ whi#h ga!e the running %east&en ti&e t &unt
a $in#er &!e&ent t either side * the&) B( the ti&e the(
*inall( did #at#h sight * Ga!aln and the (a',head that had
re&ained %( his side the( were t slw in raising their guns t
ta'e ai&)
One * the& gt ** a sht at the sr#erer+ %ut it was *ired
*r& the hi$) Ca!aln needed neither lu#' nr &agi# t a!id
the %ullet+ whi#h whi11ed har&lessl( !er his head) The &an
was then dragged dwn %( the #laws * a %east&an+ whse
talns tre the *lesh *r& the right side * his *a#e) The sldier
tried t %ring the &u11le * his gun arund s that he #uld
*ire int the %east&an/s %ell(+ %ut the #reature/s des#ending
&ass was t great) The li*e was #rushed ut * hi&)
The se#nd sldier &ight ha!e dne %etter had he a#tuall(
#ntri!ed t *ire+ %e#ause he had %rught his gun u$ t his
shulder *irst+ %ut the (a',head wh had re&ained with
Ca!aln had alread( hurled its s$ear with su$erhu&an *r#e)
The serrated %sidian head * the wea$n #ut thrugh the
hu&an/s ri%s li'e a #ar!ing 'ni*e) The sldier *ell %a#'wards+ his
%d( #arried ten r twel!e *eet %( the &&entu& * the
i&$a#t)
Ga!aln let the %east&en wh had *elled the tw &en har,
!est the guns and a&&unitin the( had #arried) The wea$ns
were neither I&$eriu& riginals nr high,2ualit( 5ala1endran
i&itatins+ %ut the( wuld %e a wel#&e additin t the *ire,
$wer * his wn ar&() Ful%ra/s %attle,tan's were &stl( #rude
%( #&$arisn with their riginal &dels+ their engines *uelled
%( al#hls distilled *r& wd and their #ater$illar tra#'s
#&$unded ut * an unsa!ur( &i-ture *9e!el'anan ru%,
%er and nati!e $lant,*i%re+ %ut ar&ur was ar&ur and their
ad!an#e wuld %e ine-ra%le i* Ga!aln/s thrall,wi1ards #uld
nt *rti*( their wn e-ti# resur#es with the 'ind * %rute
*r#e that nl( hea!( &etal #uld deli!er)
Ga!aln signalled t the %east&en t s$read ut in %th
dire#tins+ while he and his i&&ediate #&$anin &!ed
#are*ull( *rward+ &a'ing *ull use * the a%undant #!er)
The ne-t gun&an t run int Ga!aln was nt 2uite s
$ani#,stri#'en+ and he was alert t the $ssi%ilit( that there
wuld %e ene&ies lur'ing in the uter&st #ir#le * the %ushes
surrunding the $l) The 5ala1endran had s&e 'ind *
light,gun+ whi#h &ade hi& at least du%l( dangerus+ %ut he
had alread( used it at least n#e+ and his !isin was still slightl(
#n*used) The sht he *ired wuld ha!e %een well,enugh
ai&ed had it had an rdinar( target+ %ut Ga!aln was a sr,
#erer+ %lessed with a de#e$ti!e $resen#e) The ht %ea& was
#lse enugh t singe his shulder+ %ut su#h little $ains were
&&entar( s$i#e t Ga!aln and nl( ser!ed t shar$en the
sense * triu&$h he *elt as he hurled hi&sel* *rward t gra$,
$le with the &an)
The 5ala1endran was tall and &us#ular+ and &ight ha!e $ut
u$ s&e srt * resistan#e e!en t a %ull,shuldered %east,
&an+ %ut he had n #han#e at all against a sr#erer %lessed
with as &an( &utatins as Ga!aln the Great) Ga!aln
ri$$ed the sldier/s right ar& #lean ut * its s#'et %e*re
using his *ingernails t slash the &an/s thrat , a #utting %lw
s e**e#ti!e that it shredded all the *lesh in *rnt * the %a#',
%ne) Ga!aln $aused .ust lng enugh t $r( the
#n!ulsi!el(,l#'ed *ingers * the dead ar& awa( *r& the
handgri$ * the e-ti# wea$n %e*re %ringing his $ri1e
arund and #harging *rward)
The %ushes surrunding hi& were alread( s$uttering *it*ull(
and %el#hing s&'e+ %ut Ga!aln/s new e(e did nt see&
$rne t wee$ing) It stung as %adl( as e!er %ut it ga!e hi& the
sight he needed t $i#' ut ene&ies running this wa( and that)
He sht ne+ and wat#hed in *as#inatin as the sldier/s uni,
*r& and *lesh &elted tgether as the( %urned) A se#nd
returned *ire+ %ut he t was #n*used %( Ga!aln/s de#e$ti!e
$resen#e+ and a %east&an/s %lade &ade hi& $a( *r his #n*u,
sin) Ga!aln sht a third hi&sel*+ %ut he still had nt #aught
a gli&$se * the =essel)
The engines * at least three tru#'s were raring nw+ and
their sear#hlights were $r%ing in e!er( dire#tin) Ga!aln
heard a *right*ul %ellwing s#rea& that had t %e ne * his
%east&en) He &!ed re*le-i!el( twards it+ n the assu&$tin
that it &ust ha!e #&e *r& the $la#e where the *ight was
&st *ier#el(,#ntested and the ene&( &st se#urel(,
entren#hed+ %ut still he #uld nt see the s'inn( na'ed *r&
* the nas#ent dae&n)
The tru#'s were n the &!e nw+ see&ingl( headed in se!,
eral di**erent dire#tins) One was #&ing dire#tl( twards
hi&+ and Ca!aln $ised his wea$n+ read( t *ire) He was
#n*ident that n single hu&an #uld $se a &rtal threat t
hi&+ %ut a tw,tn tru#' with a hea!( gun &unted n its
%a#' was a di**erent &atter) He #uld ha!e &!ed sidewa(s t
ta'e #!er in a #luster * head,high *lwering $lants and let
the !ehi#le $ass %(+ %ut that wuld ha!e allwed the tru#' and
its $ersnnel t get awa(+ and at least tw !ehi#les were
alread( in the $r#ess * ding that) S he std *ir& and
t' ai&)
The tru#'/s sear#hlight $i#'ed ut the sr#erer al&st i&&e,
diatel() Had the !ehi#le nt %een heading straight *r hi&
alread( its dri!er wuld $resu&a%l( ha!e altered #urse in
rder t run hi& dwn) Frtunatel(+ Ga!aln/s new e(e was *ar
less sensiti!e t the harsh glare * the sear#hlight than the del,
i#ate tints * starlight and &nlight+ and he #uld easil( &a'e
ut the hel&eted heads * the &an swi!elling the sear#hlight
and his #&$anin statined at the %ig gun)
Ga!aln sht the gun&an *irst+ and then the sear#hlight
$eratr) He wat#hed their heads e-$lde with gri& satis*a#,
tin , and then turned his attentin t the ne with what was
nw the &st dangerus wea$n * all at his dis$sal4 the
tru#',dri!er)
As the !ehi#le hurtled twards hi&+ the inter!ening distan#e
!anishing (ard %( (ard+ Ga!aln *ired a third ti&e)
Un*rtunatel(+ the $lasti# * whi#h the winds#reen was &ade
turned ut t %e s&ewhat resistant t the 'ind * *ire the
light,wea$n $rdu#ed) It did nt shatter and it did nt &elt ,
nt 2ui#'l( enugh+ at an( rate) Ga!aln 'new that the s$lash
* the dis#harge &ust ha!e da11led the dri!er+ %ut the tru#' was
s #lse t its target that the dri!er/s lss * sight was irrele!ant)
Ga!aln had nl( a s$lit se#nd t di!e #lear)
Had he %een wearing his %attle,ar&ur he &ight nt ha!e
%een a%le t d it+ %ut the #stu&e re2uired %( the ritual was
&u#h lighter)
He threw hi&sel* sidewa(s+ and .ust &anaged t get his
%ts ut * the line *llwed %( the **,side *rnt wheel+ thus
sa!ing his *eet *r& $ul!eri1atin)
The tru#' #areered n *r *rt( r *i*t( (ards+ and *r a
&&ent Ga!aln thught that it wuld disa$$ear int the
night and %e lst , %ut then the %ra'es were a$$lied and the
!ehi#le was thrwn int a tight U,turn) The sr#erer realised
that the dri!er had n idea that the &en n the %a#' * the
tru#' had %een 'illed3 the &an %!iusl( thught that he was
still at the wheel * a $wer*ul %attle,wagn+ a !erita%le #annn
n wheels)
Ga!aln gt u$+ %ut &ade n atte&$t t hide hi&sel*)
Instead+ he %a#'ed u$ slwl(+ l'ing arund hi&sel* all the
while *r *urther signs * tru%le) N ne #a&e at hi&+ and
there were n &re s#rea&s)
As sn as the tru#' was *ull( turned arund+ the dri!er hit
the a##eleratr hard) The engine s#ree#hed and the tru#'
lur#hed as its slid t(res %u&$ed their wa( thrugh a dense
thi#'et+ %ut it hurtled *rward ne!ertheless)
Ga!aln 'new that a se#nd sht &ight well su##eed where
the *irst had *ailed+ the *a%ri# * the winds#reen ha!ing alread(
%een wea'ened , %ut he als 'new that it &ight nt+ and that
a&&unitin was $re#ius) He 'e$t the stlen gun in his le*t
hand+ %ut his right rea#hed dwn t $lu#' a dart *r& his %elt)
He had nt #&e *ull(,ar&ed t the ritual+ %ut he ne!er went
an(where withut ade2uate de*en#es+ and the dart was #harged
with a &agi#al energ( that wuld &ulti$l( its &&entu& a
hundred*ld+ i* it were thrwn with the $r$er s'ill)
He threw it+ with the $r$er s'ill)
The dart s&ashed thrugh the tru#'/s windshield as i* it were
&ade * s$idersil' and !anished int the startled dri!er/s $en
&uth) He .er'ed %a#' in his seat as the $int * the dart sli#ed
%etween the %ase * the s'ull and the *irst #er!i#al !erte%rae
%e*re e&%edding itsel* dee$l( in the steel wall * the %a#' *
the #a% , %ut the tru#' 'e$t #&ing) The dead dri!er/s hands
were still hlding the wheel in $la#e+ and the tru#' was still
headed straight *r the s$t where Ca!aln std)
Ga!aln #ursed the ne#essit( * di!ing sidewa(s *r a se#nd
ti&e+ %ut he had n ti&e t d an(thing %ut di!e+ s that was
what he did) This ti&e+ the t(re &issed his %ted *t %( a
#lear si- in#hes)
The tru#' #areered n int a huge stand * rushes+ whse
%rittle stal's #ra#'led as the( ga!e wa( t its &ass , %ut the(
#uld nt slw it dwn su**i#ientl( t st$ it dri!ing n int
the $l+ where it arri!ed with an al&ight( s$lash)
The water thrwn u$ %( the i&$a#t was hurled in e!er( dire#,
tin+ and Ga!aln re*le-i!el( raised his ar& t shield his e(es
*r& the *ra#tin * the #as#ade that landed n hi&)
One last s#rea& sunded then+ %ut it was neither a hu&an
s#rea& nr the agnised hwl * a %!ine %east&an) It was the
s#rea& * s&e &nstrus $l,dweller+ dee$l( resent*ul *
the rude in!asin * its nr&all(,2uiet h&e)
A*ter that+ relati!e 2uiet resu&ed) The sund * the ther
engines was alread( redu#ed %( distan#e t a hu&) I* an( * the
5ala1endran sldiers were still ali!e+ the( were nt *iring their
guns)
/Sear#h the area+/ Ga!aln shuted+ as the (a',head wh had
nt stra(ed *ar *r& his side hel$ed hi& t his *eet) /Find an(
*ugiti!es and 'ill the& , %ut a%!e all else+ *ind the =essel)/
He did nt du%t that the %east&en did their %est t %e(
the rder+ and he #ertainl( $la(ed his wn $art in what %e#a&e
a &$$ing,u$ $eratin+ %ut %( the ti&e dawn #a&e he 'new
the aw*ul truth)
Ni&ian/s na'ed *r& was nwhere t %e *und+ dead r ali!e)
He had #&e and gne) Unless the lar!al Sathrael had dis#!,
ered an altgether une-$e#ted a%ilit( t *l( , and t *l(
un$ra#tised and untrained , he &ust ha!e %een n ne * the
tru#'s that had es#a$ed the s'ir&ish %( dri!ing ** int the night)
Ca!aln was #ertain that at least three tru#'s had gne+ %ut
he #uld nt %e sure that nl( three had gne , and there was
n wa( t %e sure whi#h dire#tin the ne #arr(ing Ni&ian had
ta'en) Hw #uld he $ssi%l( return t his gathering ar&( with
the news that he had lst the all( wh was su$$sed t $r!ide
their &st $wer*ul antidte t I&$erial *ire$wer6 What were
a *ew #a$tured guns %( #&$arisn with a lst dae&n6 Hw
wuld the dae&n,t,%e *are withut the guiding !i#e and
wisd& * Ga!aln the Great6
The (a',head uttered a grunt * sli#itus #n#ern)
/I/& all right+/ Ca!aln assured the #reature) /In *a#t+ s *ar as
I 'nw+ e!er(thing is all right)/ He tried t reassure hi&sel* with
a *ew *urther thughts in the sa&e !ein) What need had a dae,
&n * hu&an guidan#e+ when it had the gra#e and *a!ur *
the great gd6 The $lan was nt his+ stri#tl( s$ea'ing+ %ut the
7i!ine S#he&er/s , and wh was he t .udge that it had gne
awr(6 Perha$s it was $r#eeding $er*e#tl() Perha$s there was
n $erha$s a%ut it) Hw #uld the gds %e su%.e#t t the
whi&s * #han#e6
He was nt #n!in#ed) The dae&n,t,%e &ight nt need
hi&+ %ut he #ertainl( needed the dae&n,t,%e) The dae&n,
t,%e &ight nt need t re#ei!e his guidan#e+ %ut he #ertainl(
needed t gi!e it)
The (a',head grunted again+ and three ther %east&en
.ined in the #hrus)
The %east&en see&ed ha$$( enugh with the $ile * guns
the( had gathered *r& the #r$ses * the 5ala1endrans , as
well the( &ight+ gi!en that there were &re than enugh *r
the& t ta'e ne ea#h+ and that their wn #asualties a&unted
t n &re than tw wal'ing wunded)
I* I 'new hw t #ntrl ne * these a%andned !ehi#les+
Ga!aln thught+ l'ing at the three tru#'s that re&ained and
were see&ingl( still usa%le+ I &ight return t &( ar&( in su#h
st(le that the( wuld a$$laud &( triu&$h)
What he e!entuall( said ut lud was4 DWe need &re than
the guns and a&&unitin) We need all the su$$lies the( were
#arr(ing) What we #annt #arr( ursel!es we/ll gather int a
#a#he+ and send a deta#h&ent * $a#',hrses ut t #lle#t it)
When (u ha!e dne that (u #an slee$ *r an hur+ $erha$s
tw i* (u/re 2ui#') We #annt s$are an( &re ti&e than that)
The ene&( is &!ing *ast+ h$ing t get at us %e*re we/re
read() We ha!e t &!e *ast t)/
The %east&en/s nds and grunts * agree&ent were !er,
enthusiasti#+ as was in!aria%l( the #ase when he tld the&
things the( were t stu$id t understand *ull()
On#e the %east&en had returned t wr'+ thugh+ Ca!aln
#uld nt hel$ re!erting t his riginal train * thught) I* the
gds were nt su%.e#t t the whi&s * #han#e+ he thught+ then
the wrld wuld surel( %e a &u#h &re $redi#ta%le $la#e than it
was) A gd deal * its distur%an#e &ight %e due t the #n*li#ts
* the gds+ %ut the un$redi#ta%ilit( * #ir#u&stan#e was n &ere
&atter * $$sed and #ntending wills) As a sr#erer+ with a sr,
#erer/s $wers * *resight+ he 'new %etter than an( &ere dullard
hw wa(ward the wa(s * #han#e reall( were+ and hw !ulnera,
%le e!en dae&ns &ight %e t *rea's * #ir#u&stan#e)
As a &an wh as$ired t %e#&e a dae&n hi&sel*+ i* he
#uld nl( ser!e his gd %ra!el( and #le!erl( enugh+ Ga!aln
was des$eratel( well aware * hw little he 'new a%ut the
wa(s and $wers * dae&ns+ %ut ne thing he did 'nw was
that the( #uld nl( en.( wrldl( e-isten#e *r a %rie* ti&e
%e*re returning t whate!er di&ensin it was that the( were
entitled t #all h&e)
As Sathrael grew int his heritage he , r shuld that %e /it/6
, &ight a#2uire the $wer t %last #ntinents+ r t $ut ut the
sun+ %ut he+ r it+ wuld nt ha!e that $wer lng+ and its use
wuld hasten the &&ent * the dae&n/s de$arture)
Withut Ca!aln the Great t guide hi& , r it , hw #uld
the dae&n $ssi%l( 'nw and understand hw %est t de$l(
that awes&e $wer in the interests * Gul1a#andra6
Withut Ga!aln the Great/s guidan#e+ was there nt a $s,
si%ilit( that the dae&n &ight de$l( that $wer in su#h a wa(
as t #ntri!e the ruinatin * Gul1a#andra as well as the $ett(
I&$eriu& that had %een esta%lished in 5ala1endra sin#e the
*all *r& the s'(6
Ca!aln $ut u$ a hand t #!er his a#hing e(e+ $rte#ting its
tenderness *r& the ht light * the risen sun)
The sight * the $al& * his hand see&ed strangel( #&*rt,
ing+ that %eing ne * the *ew areas * his uter *lesh that had
nt #hanged a$$re#ia%l( sin#e his a$$renti#e da(s) The *ingers
were lnger and thi#'er+ their nails &u#h &re #law,li'e+ %ut
ihe $al& was still engra!ed with the sa&e $attern * #riss,
#rssed lines4 the $attern in whi#h his destin( was written+ i*
nl( he #uld &aster the art * reading it)
Alas+ *r all its &ar!ellus $wers * sight+ his new e(e did
nt #&e with an( enhan#ed a%ilit( t read)
E!en Ca!aln the Great+ the &st $wer*ul sr#erer t wal'
the sur*a#e * Sig&atus *r a thusand generatins+ #uld nt
read the *iner details * the $r&ises ins#ri%ed %( his $arent
gd in the *rail *a%ri# * his wn *lesh)
5nw th(sel* was+ alas+ *ar *r& %eing the easiest * the sr,
#erus #&&and&ents t 'ee$+ e!en in res$e#t * thse
as$e#ts * the sel* that were nt su%.e#t t #ntinued e!lutin
r ar%itrar( alteratin)
/But we will win+/ Ga!aln &uttered+ t s*tl( *r the (a',
head t hear) /We &ust)/
ELE=EN
7ATHAN WO5E IIP with a start as the tru#' lur#hed t a st$) The
engine s$uttered and died) He realised+ s&ewhat t his sur,
$rise+ that the sun was nw high a%!e the hri1n+ nl( a
little t the le*t * the tru#'/s heading) Se!eral hurs &ust
ha!e $assed+ althugh it did nt see& t hi& that he had
sle$t *r &re than a *ew &inutes)
H(#illa raised her head t+ and turned t $eer at hi&) Her
e(es had lst their s#ar( 2ualit(+ and he 'new that she was n
lnger entran#ed) She see&ed *ar &re sur$rised than he was
%( their #ir#u&stan#es) Whate!er &e&r( she had * ha!ing
dri!en the tru#' had %!iusl( *aded int that %li!in t
whi#h drea&,&e&ries were usuall( #nsigned+ and she
see&ed 2uite nn$lussed %( the $resen#e * the %( with the
tu*ted ears+ wh was .ust %eginning t wa'e u$ in his turn)
/Where are we6/ she as'ed)
/I ha!en/t the slightest idea+/ 7athan tld her) /A lng wa(
west * the $l+ and s&e wa( t the suth) I ha!e n idea
whi#h wa( El!enr &ight lie) We/re in the &iddle *
nwhere)/
H(#illa turned t l' ut * her side windw then+ %ut she
#uldn/t see *ar) The tru#' was in a *rest * srts+ althugh its
/trees/ l'ed li'e huge red,and,%la#' #rn #%s sheathed in
$ale (ellw lea!es with sil!er s$i'es) The undergrwth n
%th sides was *airl( dense+ %ut the tru#' had %een *llwing
a rad * srts , r $erha$s an ani&al trail+ i* there were ani,
&als herea%uts as %ig as l-dnts)
H(#illa turned %a#') /Wh/s he6/ she said+ &eaning the %(
wh was ru%%ing the slee$ *r& his e(es) Thse e(es had %een
e!en s#arier than H(#illa/s when he had *irst lea$t a%ard+ %ut
the( l'ed &erel( hu&an nw) E!en the ears did nt see&
as re&ar'a%le as the( had %e*re+ and the dirt,stained %d(
see&ed e!en s'innier) 7athan wndered whether the $attern
he had seen n the na'ed %d( when the %( lea$t a%ard
had %een &erel( a tri#' * the #n*used light)
/I su$$se he &ust ha!e %een hiding in the s#ru% arund
the $l+ .ust as we were) When the sldiers were atta#'ed and
e!er(thing started %urning he &ust ha!e $ani#'ed) 8a(%e he
was #lse enugh t see us %eing #a$tured and 'new that we
were *riendl()/ It wasn/t until he/d said all this that 7athan
realised that there &ight %e an eas( wa( t get a &re a##u,
rate answer) /Wh are (u6/ he said t the %()
/9u and (u+/ said the %(+ see&ingl( 2uite &(sti*ied %( his
wn e-isten#e and #a$a#it( *r s$ee#h)
/Where d (u #&e *r&6/ 7athan as'ed+ still h$e*ul *
*inding a 2uestin that &ight eli#it a #&$rehensi%le answer)
/Hungr(+/ said the %(+ as i* &a'ing a !ital dis#!er()
/9es+/ said 7athan) /S a& I) But what/s (ur na&e6/
/Ni&ian+/ the %( re$lied+ as he wrestled with the dr,
#at#h) As sn as he had the dr $en he dr$$ed t the
grund and s#uttled int the undergrwth) He was lst t
sight al&st i&&ediatel()
/I thin' his na&e/s Ni&ian+/ 7athan said t H(#illa+
althugh he 'new that she &ust ha!e heard the terse wrd as
#learl( as he had)
H(#illa $ened her wn dr and ste$$ed dwn gingerl()
Then she went twards the %a#' * the tru#') 7athan gt
dwn n the ther side and &!ed arund t .in her at the
rear)
There was a dead sldier n the %a#' * the tru#'+ laid ut
in a su$ine $sitin %etween the gun,&unt and the side,
wall) It wasn/t i&&ediatel( %!ius hw he had died) There
were n ga$ing hles in his uni*r& and there see&ed t
ha!e %een n #ns$i#uus s$illage * %ld+ e-#e$t *r tw
tri#'les that e-tended *r& his #lsed e(es li'e tear,tra#'s) He
did stin'+ thugh+ and nt &erel( * shit) It was as i* $utre,
*a#tin had alread( set in dee$ within his *lesh) When 7athan
had #la&%ered u$ n t the %a#' * the tru#' he $ushed %a#'
ne * the dead &an/s e(elids+ %ut when he saw the ruin
%eneath he shuddered and snat#hed his hand awa()
/8agi#+/ he said+ tersel() Then he re&e&%ered that Ni&ian
&ust %e a wise,drea&er+ at least+ and $erha$s a sr#erer) He
wndered+ *r the *irst ti&e+ whether the %( #uld ha!e had
an(thing t d with the atta#' n the I&$erial sldiers+ I* s+
he had sa!ed 7athan/s and H(#illa/s li!es %e*re the( had
sa!ed his , i* the( had sa!ed his)
/Ne!er &ind hi&+/ H(#illa said) What/s in the %-es and
#anisters6/
7athan l'ed !er the #arg that had %een stwed in *rnt
* the gun,&unt) /Lts * water+/ he said) /S&e *d+ and
what l's li'e a&&unitin) N guns+ thugh+ e-#e$t *r this
&nster) I* the tru#' st$$ed %e#ause it ran ut * *uel+ we
#ertainl( #an/t ta'e that with us))) and I wuldn/t 'nw *uel
*r what it was e!en i* I saw s&e) Where has the %( gne6
7idn/t he sa( he was hungr(6/
Ni&ian rea$$eared then+ as i* n #ue) He was #arr(ing a tw
*t,lng li1ard in ne hand and s&ething that 7athan
#uldn/t $ut a na&e t in the ther) While the %( li*ted his
right hand high a%!e his head s as t dangle the head * the
li!ing li1ard int his &uth+ and then swallw it whle+ in#h
%( wriggling in#h+ 7athan had ti&e enugh t stud( the se#,
nd #reature &re #are*ull()
It l'ed li'e a grtes2uel( !er,in*lated wdluse with
h&s and a s$i'( tail) 7athan #uldn/t i&agine that it was edi,
%le+ whether it was $isnus r nt , %ut when the li1ard was
sa*el( $a#'ed int his gullet Ni&ian $r#eeded t stu** the #rea,
ture int his &uth+ e-s'eletn and all) This ti&e+ he
#ndes#ended t d a #ertain a&unt * %iting and #hewing ,
%th * whi#h were nis( $r#esses , %ut the *inal e**e#t was the
sa&e) The &nstrus arthr$d was #&$letel( #nsu&ed)
/Ah+/ said Ni&ian+ with what see&ed t 7athan t %e a $ar,
d( * satis*a#tin)
There/s s&e real *d here+> 7athan said+ nu&%l() He had
*und %is#uits+ #&$ressed *ruit and #rned %ee*)
Ni&ian/s re*usal t ta'e his $i#' * the treats n **er
see&ed disdain*ul) Instead+ he gra%%ed the dead &an %( the
%ts and hauled hi& ** the %a#' * the lrr() He 2ui#'l(
stri$$ed the &an * his uni*r& and %ts)
Fr ne hrrid &&ent+ 7athan thught that the %( was
ging t start *eeding the sldier/s li&%s int his unnatu,
rall( #a$a#ius &aw , %ut it was the #lthes he wanted+ *r
nw) B( the ti&e he had $ut the& n the( weren/t 2uite as
ill,*itting as 7athan had e-$e#ted3 Ni&ian see&ed t ha!e
grwn taller and wider sin#e he had *irst .u&$ed int the
tru#')
H(#illa had $ened ne * the water,#anisters and had
ta'en a drin' %e*re $assing it t 7athan) When 7athan had
2uen#hed his wn thirst he $assed it n t Ni&ian+ hal*,
e-$e#ting the **er t %e re*used , %ut Ni&ian dran' *r& it
with astnishing a!idit(+ #nsu&ing at least hal* a galln in
n &re than hal* a &inute)
When he $ut the #anister dwn+ the i&$r%a%le %( said
/Still hungr(/ and $r&$tl( disa$$eared int the undergrwth
again)
/What is he6/ 7athan as'ed H(#illa)
H(#illa did nt 2uestin 7athan/s use * /what/ instead *
/wh/) She was as a$$rehensi!e as he was) She wuld $r%a,
%l( ha!e %een terri*ied , as 7athan wuld ha!e %een , had
the( nt endured s &u#h hrrr alread( that she had lst the
#a$a#it( *r *urther e-#ite&ent)
/I dn/t 'nw+/ she said)
/A &utant6/ 7athan $r&$ted) /I/!e heard $e$le sa()))/ He
trailed **) Where the se#ret &atters * the #!ens were #n,
#erned+ he had nl( heard $e$le sa( things that he wasn/t
su$$sed t hear) He was a &an nw+ %ut he had %een a %(
all his li*e+ shielded and e-#luded *r& all adult a**airs)
H(#illa+ wh had hardl( %egun her $re$aratin *r edu#a,
tin as a wise,drea&er+ see&ed t 'nw nl( a little &re) /I
dn/t thin' he/s an rdinar( *rea'+/ she said) /S&ething else)
S&ething &re) 7id I reall( dri!e the tru#' *r hal* the night
and nearl( hal* a da(6 I #an/t i&agine hw)/
/9u were at the wheel+/ 7athan said+ #hsing his wrds
!er( #are*ull() /8a(%e he 'nws wh was reall( dri!ing) I wish
I/d gt t thse gd %ts %e*re he did , %ut I su$$se I/d
ha!e had t hand the& !er) Whate!er 'ind * s&ething else
he is+ he isn/t the 'ind * s&ething else that $e$le li'e us
#an sa( n t) Hw &u#h danger are we in+ d (u thin'6/
/Nt as &u#h as we were in when the sldiers had us+ ; su$,
$se+/ H(#illa said+ un#ertainl() The(/d ha!e sht (u within
anther #u$le * &inutes , and the(/d ha!e sht &e t+
a*ter anther #u$le * hurs+ r hwe!er lng it t')/
/But he is dangerus)/
/I thin' he is+/ H(#illa said+ $ensi!el() /Whate!er he is+ he/s
de*initel( dangerus) But he/s n ur side+ isn/t he6 His ene,
&ies are ur ene&ies+ whi#h &ust &a'e hi& ur *riend ,
and us his) We ught t get s&e *d *r ursel!es while we
#an)/
7athan 'new that H(#illa was right+ $r%a%l( a%ut e!er(,
thing) He wished that he were a%le t thin' #learl(+ %ut the
!erlad that had %literated his #a$a#it( *r *ear and hrrr
see&ed t ha!e slwed hi& dwn in e!er( res$e#t) He ate
&e#hani#all(+ una%le t taste the *d and see&ingl( una%le
t d an(thing %ut &!e his hands &e#hani#all( %a#' and
*rth *r& his &uth) Whate!er danger Ni&ian $sed was
si&$l( set aside3 7athan was una%le t #nte&$late it+ let
alne t reasn it ut an( *urther than he alread( had)
7athan and H(#illa had *inished their &eal %( the ti&e
Ni&ian a$$eared again+ and this ti&e he didn/t %ring his
&eal with hi&) Either he had *igured ut that his eating,
ha%its were s dis#n#erting t thers that the( were %est
indulged in $ri!ate r he had %een t hungr( t dela( his
satis*a#tin)
The stlen uni*r& a$$eared t %e e!en %etter,*itting nw
that it had when he had disa$$eared) I* the %( reall( had
grwn int it+ 7athan thught dull(+ he had dne s with
astnishing ala#rit() Ni&ian/s e(es and ears see&ed &re dis,
tin#tl( unhu&an nw+ and there was hair n the %a#' * his
hands that had nt %een there %e*re) His teeth were nti#e,
a%l( shar$er+ and there see&ed t %e ridges grwing n his
s'ull+ their ti$s alread( shwing thrugh his sil'( hair)
/Can (u understand &e+ Ni&ian6/ H(#illa said) She had
%!iusl( re#!ered &re *ull( than 7athan)
The %( didn/t answer+ %ut he swi!elled his in#redi%l( %la#'
e(es t *i- his ga1e u$n her)
/I/& H(#illa and this is 7athan+/ she tld hi&) /We ran awa(
*r& ur !illage when it was atta#'ed) We ran awa( again
*r& the $l , %ut we ha!e n idea where t run t) We/re
lst+ and alne) We need hel$)/
The %( listened t all * this+ and then see&ed t set a%ut
thin'ing it !er , %ut it a$$eared that the e**rt was a tri*le
$ain*ul+ %e#ause he raised his hands t his *rehead+ #lsing
his e(es &&entaril()
/9u and (u+/ he said) /Us nw) All tgether) Grw tgether)
Burn tgether)/
H(#illa $ndered these re&ar's *r a &&ent r tw+ then
shrugged her shulders+ ad&itting de*eat) She turned %a#' t
7athan) /This is a rad * sns+/ she said+ 'neeling dwn t
ins$e#t the sur*a#e) /I #an *eel the ruts * #art,wheels) It/s nt
well,used+ %ut it is a rad , whi#h &eans that it &ust lead
s&ewhere+ $r%a%l( t El!enr r 8an#i$) 8a(%e all we
ha!e t d is *llw it+ until we #&e t a twn , r+ at least+
a !illage r a *ar&huse)/
7athan l'ed at the giant $ardies * #rn,#%s that were
grwing %eside the radside+ and wndered %rie*l( whether
the( #uld $ssi%l( %e a #r$ * s&e 'ind) He de#ided that
it was highl( unli'el() The( were nati!e+ * little nutritinal
!alue i* nt a#tuall( $isnus) The tales tld t the !illage
#hildren s&eti&es re*erred t /nightshade *rests/ as $la#es
* e!en &re e-tre&e danger than the /gardens * gd/+ %ut he
had ne!er &anaged t %tain a #lear ntin * what a night,
shade *rest &ight l' li'e) 8a(%e+ he thught+ this was ne)
Or &a(%e nt)
/Wal'+/ said Ni&ian+ suddenl(+ ha!ing a$$arentl( #&,
$leted his #gitatins) /Battle t *ight) Stars stand still) Then)))
whsh)/ His !i#e trailed **+ un#ertainl()
/Whsh+/ 7athan e#hed+ l'ing t H(#illa *r guidan#e)
@There/s a %attle t *ight+ and then the stars will stand still+/
H(#illa said+ tr(ing hard t i&$rt the $r$er sense int
Ni&ian/s #li$$ed utteran#es) That/s %ad+ I thin'+ i* I/!e gt it
right)/
/Bad+/ 7athan re$eated+ thin'ing that it sunded all t
$lausi%le)
There was s&ething in a drea& I had+/ H(#illa went n+
/s&ething Pater Saltana said))) i* the stars stand still+ &re
ene&ies &ight $ur ut * the s'() The(/d annihilate us+ and
there/d %e nthing Ga!aln and the ther #!en,&asters
#uld d t sa!e us)/
Ni&ian see&ed t ha!e %e#&e #n*used again as he tried
t *llw this s$ee#h+ %ut his e-$ressin #leared as he #aught
ne wrd that was e!identl( *ar &re &eaning*ul t hi& than
the rest)
/Ca!aln+> he re$eated+ ndding his head urgentl() /Lst
Ga!aln) T hungr(+ t angr(+ t *ast) Lst Ga!aln) Bring
hi&) Tu#h hi&) 7 his $art)/
/I* he 'nws Ga!aln+/ 7athan #n#luded+ un#ertainl(+ /he
&ust %e *r& Ga!aln/s ar&()/
/I dn/t 'nw+/ said H(#illa+ e!en &re un#ertainl() /I* that/s
s+ &a(%e we ught t hel$ hi& get %a#' t it) But we dn/t
'nw where Ga!aln is)/
7athan *elt slightl( %etter nw that he had *d in his
st&a#h , %ut *eeling slightl( %etter nl( $a!ed the wa( *r
*eeling &u#h wrse+ as he *und the a%ilit( t %e a*raid again)
lie h$$ed %a#' n t the rear * the tru#'+ intent n rting
arund t see what he &ight %e a%le t #arr( awa() /We ha!e
t g+/ he said) /One wa( r anther+ we ha!e t g) Wh( did
the I&$eriu& ha!e t #&e t Gul1a#andra+ t destr( e!er(,
thing we had and e!er(thing we were6 What did we e!er d t
the&6/
/I dn/t 'nw+/ was the nl( re$l( H(#illa #uld **er)
Ni&ian was still listening+ a$$arentl( tr(ing t digest what
was %eing said) He see&ed t %e &a'ing $rgress intelle#tu,
all( as well as $h(si#all() /I&$eriu&+/ he said+ sei1ing *r a
se#nd ti&e u$n a wrd that had read(,&ade signi*i#an#e
*r hi&) /8en at war with the&sel!es+ at war with e!er(ne
else) N $ea#e) Ne!er #an %e) Alwa(s war) Alwa(s ga&e)/
/It/s nt a ga&e+ Ni&ian+/ 7athan assured the %( , whse
neatl(,*itted I&$erial uni*r& nw see&ed al&st as dis#n,
#erting as the tra#es * unhu&anit( that had a$$eared in his
*a#e) /It/s real) Pe$le are %eing 'illed)/
Ni&ian s&iled then) It was the *irst ti&e 7athan had seen
hi& s&ile+ and he gt the dd i&$ressin that it &ight ha!e
%een the *irst ti&e the %( had e!er s&iled)
/E!er(thing dies+/ the %( said+ as i* he were i&$arting a $re,
#ius hidden truth) /Onl( &atters hw)/
@That/s nt true+/ H(#illa $ut in+ as she t set a%ut &a'ing
u$ a $a#' t #arr() /E!er(%d( dies+ %ut it &atters when as
well as hw , and what &atters e!en &re is what the dead
#an lea!e %ehind) 5nwledge+ traditin+ dis#i$line) E!er(%d(
dies+ %ut !illages utli!e indi!iduals+ and #i!ili1atin #an #n,
tinue *re!er)/
H(#illa was $arrting Pater Saltana/s tea#hings+ %ut her
!i#e was %eginning t ta'e n that $e#uliar e-tra ti&%re3
7athan dedu#ed that she t was %eginning t *eel %etter ,
%ut that she was n lnger the 'ind * $ersn wh #uld *eel
%etter in the $er*e#tl( rdinar( wa( that he #uld)
7athan had *elt #&*rta%le in H(#illa/s #&$an( *r s
lng that it see&ed utterl( $re$sterus that she shuld nw
a$$ear alien , %ut that was the truth * the &atter)
/Onl( dar'ness is *re!er+/ was Ni&ian/s re$l( t what
H(#illa had said) /8en die+ !illages die+ #i!ili1atins die+
e&$ires die+ uni!erses die) Ashes t ashes+ dust t dust) Ashes
* stars+ dust * stars) All dar'ness in the end , %ut while we
%urn+ we &ust %urn) Will see) Will all see) 9u and (u
and)))/
Ni&ian/s e(es see&ed t *lare u$ *r& within while he
deli!ered this s$ee#h+ %ut the light died awa( in the !id as
#n*usin reasserted its hld n his head and his heart)
/Hungr(+/ he &uttered+ a*ter a $ause) /Need *d)/ But this ti&e
he did nt di!e int the undergrwth in sear#h * hideus
$re()
/I thin' this is all I #an #arr(+/ H(#illa said t 7athan+ shw,
ing hi& the $a#' she had &ade u$) There was enugh *d
and water t see the& thrugh se!eral da(s , twi#e as &an(
when the resur#es * 7athan/s wn sel*,sele#ted %urden were
added in) Had there %een a &anagea%le gun+ 7athan wuld
#ertainl( ha!e ta'en it+ and $lent( * a&&unitin+ %ut the
dead &an hadn/t %een wearing a sidear&)
/It/s enugh+/ 7athan said) /Let/s g)/
Ni&ian hadn/t $re$ared a $a#' * his wn+ and shwed n
in#linatin t hel$ H(#illa r 7athan with theirs+ %ut n%d(
**ered an( %.e#tin t his tra!elling light) The three * the&
set ** alng the rad+ and the tru#' was sn lst t sight
%ehind the&)
The *rest wasn/t e-tensi!e , nt+ at least+ in the dire#tin
the( were heading) The( had nl( gne a *ew hundred $a#es
when the #%,li'e $lants ga!e wa( t a &re !aried !egeta,
tin4 grassland &u#h li'e the ne whi#h the( had tre''ed
a#rss the $re!ius da(+ interru$ted %( #lu&$s * s$ir( sil!er,
lea!ed trees)
It was %eauti*ul+ in a wa(+ %ut 7athan was nt in a &d t
a$$re#iate its %eaut() The i&aginar( thread arund his heart
see&ed t %e tightening its gri$ u$n hi&) He #uld nt *ind
wrds t des#ri%e hw he *elt) Li'e a $risner within his wn
%d(6 Nt 2uite) As i* his *lesh were n lnger entirel( his6
Al&st) Odd+ at an( rate) =er(+ !er( dd)
A *a&il( * &was s$rinted awa( a#rss the grass( $lain as
the three tra!elling #&$anins e&erged int $lain !iew)
The( l'ed li'e eight,*t #hi#'ens %ut their gait was
re&ar'a%l( stead( and !er( s$eed() Further awa(+ 7athan saw
a herd * gha1als) The( were t *ar *r& the tra#' t *eel
threatened %( hu&an $resen#e+ and the( #ntinued gra1ing)
There was n i&&ediate sign * #ulti!atin r * an(
hu&an dwelling+ %ut H(#illa $inted t a thin s$iral *
s&'e n the hri1n) /8a(%e a huse,*ire+/ she said)
/I* s+ we shuld see the #hi&ne( sn enugh+/ 7athan
said)
There #an/t %e ene&ies ahead * us+> H(#illa said+ un#er,
tainl() /The tru#'s were the s$earhead , and nw that/s %een
%r'en **+ the( wn/t %e s 'een t get ahead * the&sel!es
again)/
/I* it/s the re&ains * a %ea#n,*ire+/ 7athan said+ h$e*ull(+
/&a(%e we #an get the 'ee$ers t re%uild it+ and send a signal
t G a!al n/s ar&()/
/Ga!aln $r%a%l( has %etter &eans * *inding us than we
ha!e * *inding hi&+/ H(#illa tld hi&) /He has wise,drea&ers
and thrall,wi1ards+ and di!inatin s$ells) Rea#hing us &ight
%e di**i#ult , %ut the ar&( &ust ha!e *ast hrses+ and &a(%e
ther runners e!en *aster)/
7athan didn/t want t 2uestin her as t the nature *
thse ther runners)
/Hungr(+/ said Ni&ian+ (et again) /Need *d)/ This ti&e he
did &a'e a detur+ althugh he #a&e %a#' 2ui#'l( enugh+
with what a$$eared t %e the tail * a *ast sna'e still dangling
*r& his li$s)
/S hungr(+/ Ni&ian re$rted t his #&$anins+ in a se&i,
a$lgeti# &anner) He see&ed t ha!e grwn anther tw
in#hes taller) It was n lnger $ssi%le *r 7athan t thin' *
hi& as a %() He had started ut shrter and sli&&er than
H(#illa %ut he was #nsidera%l( %igger than %th * the&
nw)
/That/s all right+/ 7athan said) /:ust 'ee$ right n eating)/ T
H(#illa+ he whis$ered4 /All that stu** we were taught a%ut
nati!e $rdu#e *illing (u u$ %ut nt ding (u an( gd
desn/t see& t a$$l( t hi&) He/s thri!ing n thse hr,
rrs)/
While 7athan was s$ea'ing+ Ni&ian dri*ted ** again+ $re,
su&a%l( in sear#h * (et &re *d)
/S I see+/ H(#illa agreed) /But the nati!e $redatrs dn/t
%ther with s#ales and %nes and ar&ur,$late) Whate!er he
is)))/ She st$$ed a%ru$tl(+ as i* she had suddenl( realised
what he &ight %e)
/G n+/ 7athan $r&$ted)
H(#illa didn/t ta'e u$ the thread * the senten#e+ and
7athan had n wa( * guessing what she &ight ha!e %een
thin'ing) He had t $r!ide his wn #ntinuatin)
Whate!er he is+ 7athan thught+ $erha$s we ught t %e
grate*ul that he/s n ur side) The thught was less #&*rt,
ing than he had h$ed) A*ter a &&ent/s $ause+ he as'ed
H(#illa anther 2uestin) /Hw %ig is he ging t get+ d (u
thin'+ i* he 'ee$s n eating6/
=er( %ig indeed+/ H(#illa re$lied+ *ear*ull() /And he &ight
#hange in ther wa(s t) I* he/s .ust a 'ind * gru%+ i&agine
what the *l( &ight l' li'e when it *inall( hat#hes ut)/
It see&ed t 7athan t %e a $e#uliar #&$arisn t &a'e+
%ut H(#illa was a wise,drea&er+ a lt %etter at sensing $ssi,
%ilities and .u&$ing t #n#lusins than #&&n *l' li'e
hi&) E!en the #&&nest *l' #uld s&eti&es see strange
$ssi%ilities+ thugh+ and e!en the #&&nest *l' #uld
s&eti&es .u&$ t &inus #n#lusins)
/He/s s&ething reall( hrri%le+ isn/t he6/ 7athan said+ an-,
iusl() /S&ething ut * the 'ind * tale that #hildren aren/t
su$$sed t hear)/
7athan had alread( %egun t wnder whether the tales he
had #ntri!ed t hear while he was e!er(%d(/s hel$er and
n%d(/s a$$renti#e &ight nl( %e a tin( *ra#tin * the tales
that adults 'e$t t the&sel!es) What hrrrs &ight there %e
in the wrld that had %een su##ess*ull( hidden *r& hi&6
That &ade hi& thin' * his &ther+ and e!er(thing she had
tried s hard t hide *r& hi& in rder t $rte#t his
inn#en#e , and *r the *irst ti&e+ the *a#t that his &ther was
$r%a%l( dead std star'l( #lear in the *re*rnt * his
Cns#iusness) Nw he was a%le t %e a*raid again+ and terrr
stru#' at his heart li'e an i#( s$ear)
/Nt (et+/ H(#illa re$lied t his 2uestin+ stressing the (et
e!er s slightl() She see&ed utterl( %li!ius t his re%rn ter,
rr) /But i* he &eans what he sa(s a%ut ha!ing t %urn while
he #an+ we &ight ha!e t %e !er( #are*ul indeed nt t %e
#aught in the *la&es)/
<
TWEL=E
THE ASSASSIN CA8E ut * nwhere) Ragan Bal%erith was
des#ending the stair#ase twards the *(er * the head2uarters
* the Ade$tus Terra *Sig&atus , in what was su$$sed t %e
a #&$letel( sa*e en!irn&ent , when the a%rigine suddenl(
a$$eared at the *t * the stairs and started shting)
Perha$s he wuld ha!e su##eeded had he nt started sht,
ing 2uite s sn+ %e*re ta'ing $r$er ai&+ %ut it see&ed
li'el( that he had nt had ade2uate $$rtunit( t $ra#tise
using the wea$n) It was nt s !er( un#&&n in 5ala1endra
*r a%rigines t $ssess and use stlen guns+ %ut the( la#'ed
training $$rtunities)
E!en s+ the assassin gt ** *ur shts %e*re ne *
Bal%erith/s %d(guards $ut hi& dwn+ and ne * thse shts
ldged in the thigh * the se#nd %d(guard+ wh had %een
2ui#' t d his dut( %( ser!ing as a hu&an shield t the Chie*
In2uisitr)
Bal%erith/s *irst thught+ as he wat#hed the gun&an #lla$se+
was that it was as well that what $assed *r the Ade$tus Terra
n Sig&atus had #ntri!ed t &aintain a $r$er &easure *
l(alt( and dis#i$line) Had his %d(guards %een less than *ull(
#&&itted t his $rte#tin+ ne * the& wuld surel( ha!e
%een %ri%ed %( nw t d Orl# 8el#arth/s dirt( wr') As
things were+ 8el#arth had t rel( n a%riginal $ett( #ri&inals
t ser!e as trigger&en+ and 'it#hen sta** r #leaners t get the&
int a shting $sitin)
There wuld ha!e t %e an in!estigatin+ hwe!er ti&e,#n,
su&ing it &ight %e) The rat within the walls had t %e
identi*ied and annihilated , a*ter $r$er interrgatin+ *
#urse) 8el#arth was t #are*ul t lea!e a trail that &ight lead
%a#' t hi&+ %ut an e-a&$le had t %e set) There was+ *
#urse+ a $ssi%ilit( that the assassin hadn/t %een sent %(
8el#arth+ and that he reall( was a l#al anar#hist with a grudge
against e!er(thing I&$erial+ %ut Bal%erith had alwa(s *und it
$liti# t assu&e the wrst until he was $resented with $r*
t the #ntrar()
While ser!ants hurried t hel$ the wunded &an and su&,
&n a d#tr+ the %d(guard wh had sht the wuld,%e
assassin 'nelt %eside the d(ing &an+ de&anding t 'nw wh
had sent hi&) Ha!ing #he#'ed that the %ullet,wund in his
$rte#tr/s thigh was unli'el( t %e *atal+ Bal%erith *llwed
the ther &an dwn the stairs) He 'new that it wuld %e *utile
t 2uestin the gun&an) E!en i* the *ailed assassin had %reath
enugh t answer , whi#h was unli'el(+ gi!en the si1e * the
hle in his #hest , he wuld waste it in a %rie* e-halatin *
s$ite) In all $r%a%ilit(+ the &an wuldn/t ha!e the slightest
idea that he was 8el#arth #at/s,$aw e!en i* that was the truth *
the &atter) He $r%a%l( thught that he was a gd ser!ant *
the Re!lutin+ wr'ing *r the destru#tin * the I&$eriu&+
and he &ight %e right)
E!en Bal%erith had nl( the !aguest idea hw &an( * the
su$$sed Re!lutinaries were reall( s$ies+ %e#ause he #uld
nl( &a'e an edu#ated guess as t what $r$rtin * the in*il,
tratrs were 8el#arth/s rather than his) He did 'nw+ thugh+
that the whle &!e&ent #uld %e tidied u$ in a &atter *
da(s i* it were e!er in the interests * the I&$erial #&&unit(
t d s) One * the *ew $ints * strateg( n whi#h he and the
g!ernr were whll( agreed+ hwe!er+ was that a #are*ull(,
&anaged and su%tl(,&ani$ulated $$sitin was a *ar &re
use*ul $liti#al tl than a &u#h s&aller rgani1atin that
reall( did $erate in se#ret)
/He/s dead+/ the %d(guard re$rted) /Ne!er said a wrd)/
/An(thing n hi&6/ Bal%erith as'ed+ as the %d(guard %egan
t sear#h the dead &an/s $#'ets) He was #ertain that the
answer wuld %e negati!e+ and s it was)
/Wrd * A.a/s %rea'thrugh &ust ha!e lea'ed ut+/ the
%d(guard $ined) The( 'nw that i* we #an esta%lish #nta#t
with the Fleet+ e!er(thing will #hange)/ He #are*ull( didn/t s$e#,
i*( wh /the(/ &ight %e) /Shall I du%le the guard in the $s('ers/
2uarters6/
/I* (u #an %e a%slutel( #ertain * the new &en+/ Bal%erith
said) /And I &ean a%slutel( #ertain) E!en the strngest &inds
are a$t t %e#&e agitated dwn there , it/s a dut( that re2uires
e-#eedingl( strng ner!es)/
/N $r%le&) I/ll get the %est $ssi%le re$la#e&ent *r $r
8a'ri+ t) 7 (u want t wait until he gets here6/
/N) I/!e gt t see 8el#arth nw)/ Bal%erith std u$ as he
s$'e and &!ed twards the dr+ where his #ar was waiting)
/Is that wise6/
/It/s ne#essar() An(wa(+ the s,#alled $ala#e is .ust a%ut the
sa*est $la#e in 5ala1endra , he #uldn/t a**rd t ha!e an(thing
ha$$en t &e there) He thin's he has enugh su$$rt t &a'e
hi&sel* ruler * the wrld+ %ut he 'nws hw *ragile s&e *
that su$$rt is) He #an/t a**rd t let the ru&ur get arund
that he #ares *ar &re *r his wn $ersnal glr( than the sa*et(
* the I&$erial #&&unit()/
/It/s getting arund an(wa(+/ the %d(guard said+ as he held
the #ar dr $en *r the Chie* In2uisitr+ l'ing rund all
the while *r *urther dangers , * whi#h there were nne)
That/s a $it(+/ Bal%erith said+ as the %d(guard t' his wn
seat and #lsed the dr s that the dri!er #uld get under wa(+
/%e#ause I/& nt sure that we #an a**rd a s$lit in the ran's at
this $int in ti&e+ an( &re than he #an) I* we #an/t re,esta%,
lish #nta#t with the I&$eriu& we need t win this war in
Gul1a#andra , and i* we #an+ we need t %e a%le t $ersuade
the real te#h,$riests and in2uisitrs that we/re wrth sa!ing)
What we need is t rein 8el#arth in and &a'e hi& see sense)/
/N re$risals+ then6/ the %d(guard said)
We dn/t e!en 'nw *r sure that it/s hi&+/ Bal%erith said+
tiredl() /It/s nt as i* we/re shrt * ene&ies+ is it6 The a%rigines
hate us &re than the( hate the g!ernr/s guards&en and the
ar&(+ %e#ause we/re the nes tr(ing t e-ter&inate their *ul
religin) The( dn/t understand the 'ind * war we/re *ighting)/
It was nl( a shrt ride t the g!ernr/s $ala#e) It wuld
ha!e %een easil( wal'a%le+ %ut #ust& di#tated that the 8asters
* the I&$eriu& didn/t wal') The( were the True 8en+ #iti1ens
* the gala-( still+ des$ite the *a#t that the( had %een ut *
tu#h *r se!en generatins) Wal'ing was *r a%rigines)
As the ele!atr rse t the *lr where 8el#arth/s **i#es
were+ Bal%erith h$ed that he wuldn/t ha!e t g ut n that
da&ned %al#n( again) He didn/t li'e 8el#arth $la(ing with
hi&+ r e!en 'nwing that he was !ulnera%le t %eing $la(ed
with) One da(+ he thught+ 8el#arth wuld lean ut .ust a lit,
tle t *ar and lse his *ting , %ut nt+ * #urse+ while the
Chie* In2uisitr was standing ne-t t hi&+ r e!en in the
%uilding) Nw was nt the right ti&e , %ut ti&es #hanged+
s&eti&es ra$idl(+ and i* 7eir A.a was right the( &ight %e
a%ut t #hange !er( dra&ati#all( *r the %etter) Within a
wee'+ i* nl( the war$str& wuld #ndes#end t %e#&e
dr&ant *r lng enugh+ Sig&atus &ight ha!e a real
Planetar( G!ernr , and the i&$rtan#e * its Chie*
In2uisitr/s l(alt( and deter&inatin wuld re#ei!e due
re#gnitin at lng last)
Orl# 8el#arth was nt n his %al#n() He was at his des'+
entertaining ther guests4 three * the ar&(/s senir **i#ers+
and a !-,#aster $eratr wh &ust ha!e deli!ered *resh news
*r& the *rnt) The e-$ressins n their *a#es tld Bal%erith
that the news was nt gd)
What went wrng6/ he as'ed)
/O$eratin Pr%e+/ re$lied 8a.r,General =r#h+ su##in#tl()
That %rught a *rwn t Bal%erith/s *a#e) O$eratin Pr%e
had nt %een his idea+ %ut its $resu&ed ne#essit( had %een
%ased n intelligen#e $r!ided %( his $s('ers) The !isin in
2uestin had %een un*rtunatel( !ague+ %ut it had see&ed ade,
2uate t esta%lish the ta#ti#al i&$rtan#e * a #ertain hill west
*Odienne) The de#isin t ta'e Odienne and hld it as a su$,
$l( de$t had %een ta'en inde$endentl(+ %ut n#e that was in
Ful%ra/s $lan+ the desira%ilit( * ##u$(ing the allegedl(,signi*,
i#ant $sitin withut dela( had see&ed #lear)
The #ultists &ust ha!e ##u$ied the r#' alread(+/ Clnel
Balila $ut in) /Ful%ra/s &en &ust ha!e ridden straight int an
a&%ush)/ There was &re than a hint * a##usatin in his tne)
8ilitar( &en+ wh had n understanding * the $r%le&s *
dealing with $s('ers+ #uld ne!er 2uite #&e t ter&s with the
li&itatins * the intelligen#e Bal%erith and his *ellws were
a%le t gather) Ha!ing %een warned that the r#' &ight %e
i&$rtant+ Ful%ra/s &en shuld ha!e %een alert t the $ssi,
%ilit( * an a&%ush)
What were the( a&%ushed with6/ Bal%erith as'ed+ #&%at,
i!el() /Field artiller(6 Assault ri*les6/
@We dn/t 'nw+> =r#h ad&itted) There dn/t see& t ha!e
%een an( sur!i!rs t re$rt %a#') S&ething nast() S&ething
hrri%le)/ He &eant &agi#+ %ut he #uldn/t e!en %ring hi&sel*
t $rnun#e the wrd)
/I* there was n ne t re$rt %a#'+/ Bal%erith said+ *a'ing a
#nte&$t that he was nt 2uite a%le t *eel+ /we ha!e n reasn
t assu&e that it was an(thing ut * the rdinar(+ d we6/
/It &ust ha!e %een+/ =r#h retrted+ s&%rel() The( were
gd &en , tra!elling light+ %ut well enugh ar&ed against an(
*reseea%le #ntingen#()/
/E!en i* it were s&ething hrri%le+/ Bal%erith said+ /its use
will #st the ene&( dear) This &ight %e a set%a#'+ %ut we ha!e
t $ress n regardless) It/s the *a#t that we/re *ighting t destr(
s&ething hrri%le that &a'es it a%slutel( ne#essar( t *ight
this war , and win it) We ha!e t send the air#ra*t nw+ s that
Ful%ra #an &a'e use * it)/
The Chie* In2uisitr is right a%ut this %eing a set%a#'+/
Orl# 8el#arth $ut in+ swi*tl(+ /%ut it/s nt serius) We/!e lst a
hand*ul * tru#'s and thirt( &en , %ut we #an ta'e it n trust
that the( didn/t die easil() The( &ust ha!e in*li#ted s&e da&,
age n the ene&() It lea!es the $sitin at Odienne wea'er
than we #uld ha!e wished+ %ut it wuld ha!e %een wea' an(,
wa(+ gi!en that the l#als &anaged t $isn the well) The
in#ursins t the nrth and suth ha!e $r#eeded &u#h &re
s&thl( , ur #asualties are insigni*i#ant+ while the ene&(
has alread( lst thusands)/
Thusands * ill,ar&ed $easants+ Bal%erith thught) The *irst
real %attle has (et t %e *ught) /But General Ful%ra is still as',
ing *r air su$$rt+ isn/t he6/ he said+ dggedl() The re*uelling
$ints are all in $la#e) We shuld dis$at#h it withut dela()/
8el#arth #asuall( ignred the state&ent+ as i* it had %een a
&ere suggestin * n i&$rtan#e) What news d (u ha!e+
Chie* In2uisitr6/ he as'ed instead+ l'ing Bal%erith straight
in the e(e) I* he 'new that there had %een an atte&$t n
Bal%erith/s li*e he ga!e n sign * it)
/Shi$s * the I&$erial Fleet are de*initel( near%(+> Bal%erith
said+ %ldl() The( are #ertainl( aware * the situatin n
Sig&atus) I* the a%ate&ent * the war$str& #ntinues)))/
/Are (u telling us that (u/!e a#tuall( gt a &essage thrugh
t the Fleet6/ 8el#arth wanted t 'nw) /Ha!e (u %egun a dia,
lgue6/
/Nt e-a#tl(+/ Bal%erith had t ad&it) /What we see& t ha!e
#ntri!ed is t ea!esdr$ n a *ew rele!ant e-#hanges within
the Fleet/s internal #&&uni#atins) We/re tr(ing t esta%lish a
tele$athi# lin'+ %ut the war$str&)))/
/Is still a %arrier+ and &ight %e#&e i&$enetra%le again at
an( &inute+/ 8el#arth *inished *r hi&) /WC #an/t a**rd t wait+
Chie* In2uisitr) We ha!e t $ress n with ur wn $lans)
We/!e %een islated *r tw hundred (ears+ and we #an/t $in all
ur h$es n the $ssi%ilit( that the islatin &ight sn end)/
9u #ertainl( #an/t+ Bal%erith said t hi&sel*+ silentl(+ %ut I/&
nt sure that I ha!e an( alternati!e) Alud+ he said4 We #an/t
ignre the $ssi%ilit( either) I* the war$str& des re&ain
2uiet+ the Fleet/s #&&anders will ha!e t de#ide whether it/s
wrth their while tr(ing t hel$ us) It wuld %e a ris'+ %e#ause
the( wuldn/t 'nw hw sn war$str& a#ti!it( will in#rease
again+ r hw !ilent it &ight %e#&e) I* the( thin' we/re
%e(nd hel$+ r undeser!ing * it+ the( &ight de#ide that the
sa*est #urse * a#tin is E-ter&inatus)/
/I #an/t %elie!e that+/ said the &a.r,general+ %luntl()
Bal%erith realised that it was $er*e#tl( true) =r#h was literall(
una%le t %elie!e that the I&$eriu& , the real I&$eriu&+ *
whi#h this ne was %ut a *ee%le and distrted e#h , was in the
%usiness * %literating whle e#s$heres+ &a'ing n dis#ri&,
inatin at all %etween Chas wrshi$$ers and thse wh
$$sed the&)
T &en li'e =r#h+ the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind was a distant
&e&r(+ $reser!ed in a set * stries handed dwn *r& his
great,great,great,great grand$arents+ &re s$e#ulatin than
histr() =r#h thught * hi&sel* and &en li'e hi& , in whi#h
#ategr( =r#h $resu&a%l( in#luded lerius Ful%ra and Orl#
8el#arth , as the I&$eriu&+ and t' it *r granted that his
wn ntins * authrit( and strateg( were uni!ersal) The inner
#re * the rgani1atin that was still $rud t wn su#h
na&es as the In2uisitin and the Ade$tus Terra was the nl(
$la#e n Sig&atus where a##urate 'nwledge and true *aith
still sur!i!ed) Alas+ the twisted &ind * Oil# 8el#arth+ wh
wuld $re*er that #nta#t with the real I&$eriu& was ne!er
resu&ed+ was nt s !er( re&ar'a%le in a #&&unit( whi#h
had stra(ed s *ar *r& the $ath * righteusness)
/Our tas'+/ 8el#arth said+ s&thl(+ /is t $$se the *r#es
* the ene&( with all ur &ight) T d that+ we &ust win this
war+ swi*tl( and #&$letel() I dn/t su$$se+ %( an( #han#e+
that (u ha!e an( &re in*r&atin t **er a%ut this &(ste,
rius r#' in the wilderness6 Our &en are d(ing ut there)/
The last thing Bal%erith wanted was t &a'e 8el#arth/s su$,
$rt an( less *ragile than it was) /I/ll d what I #an t %tain
*urther intelligen#e+/ he $r&ised+ /%ut the te#h,$riests and
in2uisitrs a##&$an(ing General Ful%ra &a( %e %etter $la#ed
t d that+ es$e#iall( i* the( #an #a$ture a *ew * what the a%,
rigines #all wise,drea&ers) I* (u were t send the air#ra*t)))/
/I* O$eratin Pr%e hadn/t gne s %adl( awr(+/ =r#h said+ in
a !e-ed tne , ding 8el#arth a ser!i#e whether he 'new it r
nt , /we &ight ha!e %een %etter $la#ed t #a$ture a wise,
drea&er r tw withut e-$sing ur &en t undue ris's)/
/N%d( e-$e#ted this #a&$aign t %e a wal',!er+/ Bal%erith
$inted ut) /Hwe!er in*lated the re$utatin * this Ga!aln
the Great &ight %e+ he/s as $wer*ul as he is !ile) We+ wh are
$ius and !irtuus &en+ #an ha!e little r n idea * what hr,
rrs he &ight %e a%le t unleash , %ut we are the E&$err/s
&en+ n &atter that we ha!e %een #ast awa( n this $ustulent
$lanet+ and we ha!e right n ur side) We were alwa(s ging t
ta'e lsses in this #a&$aign+ and we alwa(s 'new that thse
lsses &ight %e hea!( , that/s wh( we waited until ur *r#es
were strng enugh t %e irresisti%le) 8( $e$le will d their
ut&st t hel$ with the $ri&ar( assault , %ut their real wr'
will %egin a*terwards+ when we ha!e t rt ut e!er( re&nant
* Chas,wrshi$ thrughut the #ntinent) That will %e a
lng and u$hill struggle+ unless we #an %tain rein*r#e&ents
*r& the I&$eriu&)
/I* we #an get thse rein*r#e&ents sn enugh+ we &ight
%e a%le t #ut General Ful%ra/s antid$ated lsses drasti#all()
That/s what we all want+ isn/t it6 8re than an(thing else+ we
want t sa!e the li!es * ur sldiers+ and &a'e the wr' * ur
$riests that &u#h easier , whi#h is wh( I ha!e t #ntinue tr(,
ing t &a'e #nta#t with the Fleet+ and wh( e!er( s&all su##ess
in %ringing that end #lser is wrth( * #ele%ratin+ and wh(
we reall( ught t send the air#ra*t t Gul1a#andra withut *ur,
ther dela()/
Balila was alread( ndding agree&ent t the &ain $ints *
this s$ee#h+ and =r#h/s e-$ressin had s*tened #nsidera%l()
E!en Orl# 8el#arth had t &a'e a shw * a$$r!al+ n &at,
ter hw deter&ined he was nt t ta'e u$ the *inal suggestin)
Bal%erith had %egun t understand that 8el#arth wanted the
air#ra*t *r hi&sel* , and that &ade hi& deter&ined t &a'e
sure+ ne wa( r anther+ that he didn/t get it)
/9u/re right+ * #urse+ Ragan+/ the g!ernr said) /But let/s
nt $ut all ur eggs in ne %as'et+ shall we6 General Ful%ra
will d e!er(thing he #an t *igure ut wh( O$eratin Pr%e
went wrng+ and what the i&$li#atins are *r the ne-t $hase
* the %attle) We d need t 'nw what the ene&( has in stre
*r us+ and (ur $e$le re$resent ur %est h$e * *inding ut)
It/s nt as i* Gul1a#andra is li'e 5ala1endra+ with a s$( n
e!er( street * e!er( twn , and i* the re$rts *r& Odienne
are an(thing t g %(+ e!en ur %est interrgatrs will *ind it
hard ging e-tra#ting use*ul in*r&atin *r& the l#al $eas,
ants+ whse stu$idit( is nl( e-#eeded %( their stu%%rnness)
We/re rel(ing n the Ade$tus Terra+ Ragan) We need (u nw
&re than e!er %e*re)/
8el#arth/s insin#erit( was $al$a%le) It was eas( enugh *r
Bal%erith t i&agine the g!ernr adding+ *r his wn ears
alne4 and n#e we/re thrugh with this #a&$aign+ we/ll ne!er need
(u again) He 'new+ thugh+ that the I&$eriu& wuld need
hi& again) I* Chas were t %e annihilated rather than su%,
.e#ted t a &erel( te&$rar( de*eat+ the rulers * Sig&atus
wuld need t &aintain the strength * its re&nant * the
Ade$tus Terra+ and its strength * $ur$se t) And what the
l#al reli# * the real Ade$tus Terra needed &re than an(,
thing else was a health( in.e#tin * new strength and new
$ur$se *r& the real Ade$tus Terra+ the %a#'%ne * the
I&$eriu& * 8an'ind)
It wuld %e *lish+ Bal%erith thught+ e!en t tr( t redire#t
7eir A.a/s attentin *r& authenti#all( i&$rtant &atters t
su#h tri!ial 2uestins as wh r what had a&%ushed
O$eratin Pr%e+ and wh( a lu&$ * r#' in the desert see&ed
t %e * s&e ta#ti#al signi*i#an#e t Ca!aln the s,#alled
Great) /I* (u need &e s &u#h+/ Bal%erith said+ gri&l(+ /it/s a
$it( (ur $li#e *r#e #uldn/t st$ a nati!e with a gun getting
int &( head2uarters this &rning) One * &( %d(guards
t' a %ullet that was &eant *r &e)/
8a.r,General =r#h and his .unir **i#ers see&ed gen,
uinel( sh#'ed+ %ut it was hard t %elie!e that 8el#arth/s
$ant&i&e * hrrr had an( genuine s(&$ath( in it)
Bal%erith #uldn/t %elie!e that it had+ e!en i* 8el#arth hadn/t
a#tuall( %een %ehind the assassinatin atte&$t)
The #ultists still ha!e agents in 5ala1endra+/ 8el#arth
%ser!ed) /Until their rgani1atin lses its head+ we/ll ne!er %e
a%le t %literate the& entirel( , %ut n#e Cul1a#andra is urs
and this Ca!aln is sa*el( dead+ alng with all his disgusting
*llwers+ the undergrund will wither awa() On#e !i#tr( is
urs+ we/ll all %e a%le t slee$ sa*el( in ur %eds) Wuld (u
li'e &e t lend (u s&e &en t rein*r#e (ur %d(guard+
Ragan6 I/d %e nl( t ha$$( t hel$)/
/; #an ta'e #are * it+/ Bal%erith said+ dril() /I #an ta'e #are *
e!er(thing , de$end n it)/
/I will+/ 8el#arth assured hi&+ insin#erel() /We all will)/
I/ll %ring the Fleet here r die tr(ing+ Bal%erith tld hi&sel*
*ir&l() 9u #an ignre the $ssi%ilit( i* (u want+ &( dear
g!ernr+ %ut (u wn/t %e a%le t ignre the shi$s when
the( #&e dwn , and then we/ll see wh #an ta'e #are *
the&sel!es and wh #an/t) All $raise t the E&$err
8agni*i#ent , and death t all his ene&ies+ whe!er and
where!er the( &a( %e0
<
THIRTEEN
IT TURNE7 u/r that the s&'e 7athan and H(dlla had seen
was nt the residual s&'e * a dead %ea#n,*ire) It was #&,
ing *r& the #hi&ne( * a s&all huse set in the &iddle * a
s2uare $at#hwr' * *ields+ whi#h had re&ained in!isi%le *ar
lnger than see&ed li'el( %e#ause it was situated in a narrw
!alle()
There had %een grain grwing in tw * the *ields+ lentils in
tw &re and $tates in the re&ainder+ %ut the grain had all
%een har!ested and all %ut a *ew * the $tates had %een
unearthed) E!en the sturdil(,*en#ed #hi#'en,run %ehind the
huse had %een e&$tied) 7athan assu&ed that the %irds had
%een ta'en %( the 2uarter&asters ser!ing Ga!aln/s ar&() I*
s+ that ar&( #uld nt %e *ar awa()
The *ar&er/s *a&il( had gne+ $resu&a%l( t see' re*uge in
El!enr , i*+ in *a#t+ El!enr was the nearest twn) I* ri!al
ar&ies were t #lash u$n the $lain+ the *ar&er had $resu&,
a%l( reasned+ it was %est nt t re&ain in an islated
%uilding that either side &ight *ind it #n!enient t ##u$(
and hld against %&%ard&ent)
Fr& 7athan/s $int * !iew+ n the ther hand+ the $ssi,
%ilit( * te&$rar( shelter see&ed !er( wel#&e) Be#ause he
had hardl( sle$t during the $re!ius night the &rning/s tre'
had sn e-hausted his reser!es * strength) H(#illa see&ed t
need rest e!en &re than he did+ and he was a*raid that she
&ight sli$ %a#' int a tran#e state at an( &&ent) Ni&ian+
wh had slwed their $rgress #nsidera%l( while he t' an(
and e!er( $$rtunit( t *eed his unnatural a$$etite+ see&ed
strnger and &re alert than either * the&+ %ut he t was
%eginning t shw distin#t signs * #n*usin in his e(es)
Ni&ian &ight %e alert+ 7athan thught+ %ut it was nt
&erel( , and $erha$s nt $ri&aril( , his i&&ediate sur,
rundings that he was alert t) Other things+ whse nature
was %e(nd 7athan/s #&$rehensin+ see&ed t %e #la&ur,
ing *r his attentin)
When the( had sear#hed the little huse and its uthuses
thrughl(+ nt s &u#h t &a'e sure that n ne was hiding
there as t deter&ine whether the( #uld renew their su$$lies+
7athan and H(#illa settled dwn n the hearth %e*re the last
gli&&ering e&%ers * the $re!ius night/s *ire) The( ate a rea,
sna%l( heart( &eal)
Ni&ian ate t+ althugh the I&$erial sldiers/ ratins did
nt see& nearl( as &u#h t his taste as the !arius disgusting
ite&s * nati!e *auna he had %een #hasing and de!uring
sin#e dawn)
/Hw d we g a%ut *inding Ga!aln6/ 7athan wanted t
'nw)
H(#illa didn/t answer i&&ediatel(3 the &eal had &ade her
&re s&nlent than %e*re) /I dn/t 'nw+/ she said+ wea'l()
/The nl( thing I #an thin' *+/ 7athan said+ nt at all satis,
*ied with this *ee%le res$nse+ /is tr(ing t *ind and *llw the
tra#'s le*t %( the wagns that t' the grain and $tates
awa() The( &ust ha!e %een hea!il( laden+ s it shuldn/t %e
t di**i#ult t $i#' u$ their trail) Or we #uld .ust g n *l,
lwing the rad until we rea#h the ne-t !illage)/
/Fine+/ H(#illa said+ unhel$*ull()
7athan turned t Ni&ian in e-as$eratin) What d (u
thin'6/ he as'ed+ nt e-$e#ting &u#h in the wa( * a re$l()
Ni&ian stared at hi& in a &st dis#n#erting *ashin+ %ut
he did at least a$$ear t %e #nsidering the 2uestin with all
due seriusness and with a &easure * intelligen#e)
7athan nti#ed that %th hal!es * Ni&ian/s stlen
I&$erial uni*r& were nw straining at the sea&s3 he
du%ted that the( wuld last &re than an hur %e*re the(
were trn a$art *r& within) N ne #uld $ssi%l( ha!e
#alled Ni&ian /s'inn(/ nw3 he had &us#les that a %la#'s&ith
wuld ha!e en!ied)
/I sta( here+/ Ni&ian said+ e!entuall() /With her) 9u g)
Bring Ga!aln) Bring wi1ards) Sa#ri*i#es will #&e) I will %ring
shi$s)/
The wrd /sa#ri*i#es/ see&ed &inus) It was+ hwe!er+ the
*inal wrd that see&ed the &st sur$rising t 7athan)
/Shi$s6/ 7athan said) /We/re hundreds * &iles *r& the sea)
Hw #an (u $ssi%l( %ring shi$s6/
@=u %ring Ca!aln and wi1ards+/ Ni&ian said+ i&$atientl()
/I %ring shi$s)/
/9u &ean starshi$s+ dn/t (u6/ H(#illa $ut in+ ha!ing
a$$arentl( e-$erien#ed a sudden *lash * enlighten&ent) /Li'e
the nes that %rught the I&$eriu& here+ tw hundred (ears
ag)/
/9u %ring wi1ards+/ Ni&ian re$eated+ still l'ing at
7athan with his ini&ita%l( dar' e(es) /Sa#ri*i#es will #&e) I
will %ring *d) Lts * *d) Then shi$s) Whsh)/
/I dn/t want t lea!e H(#illa+/ 7athan said+ wndering hw
stu%%rn he dared t %e+ gi!en that he was tal'ing t s&ene
wh was graduall( turning int a giant+ r s&ething *ar
stranger and *ar wrse)
/Sa*e here+/ Ni&ian re$lied) /Sa*er than an(where) Need her
here) She #an see) She 'nws) She is &e) S are (u) G)/
/H(#illa/s su$$sed t %e a wise,drea&er+/ 7athan $ersisted+
stu%%rnl(+ /%ut she/s !er( (ung) She/s .ust an a$$renti#e) She
desn/t 'nw an(thing)/ He was uneasil( aware * the *a#t that
he had n idea what H(#illa &ight 'nw+ r e!en hw she
&ight ha!e #&e %( the in*r&atin)
/Needs hel$+/ said the %( wh was n lnger a %(+ nd,
ding in agree&ent) /And rest) Sta( with &e) 9u g)/
7athan wasn/t #n!in#ed) 7idn/t he need rest .ust as &u#h
as H(#illa did+ &a(%e &re6 And hw #uld an(%d( %e %et,
ter ** sta(ing with whate!er Ni&ian was %e#&ing6 This was+
a*ter all+ a %eing wh didn/t thin' that it &attered when a $er,
sn &ight die+ %ut nl( hw , a %eing wh re#'ned that
when the ti&e #a&e t %urn+ ne had t %urn)
Pater Saltana had n#e tld 7athan that all li*e was li'e *ire+
and that *d reall( was a 'ind * *uel+ whse energ( was
released and re#lai&ed %( slw #&%ustin) The tri#' *
%eing hu&an) Pater Saltana had said+ was t %urn as slwl(
and as steadil( as ne #uld , %ut the tri#' * %eing &re than
hu&an+ as wi1ards and wise,drea&ers were+ was t %u&
%rightl( as well)
7athan 'new nthing a%ut wi1ards e-#e$t what he had
heard in *antasti# tales+ %ut he had a nast( sus$i#in that
when Ni&ian s$'e with su#h relish * %urning he was thin',
ing * the 'ind * *ire that #uld #&$ete+ i* nl(
&&entaril(+ with the sun)
7athan didn/t want H(#illa t %urn li'e that) He didn/t e!en
want her t %e standing near t an(thing , r an(ne , that
did) He wanted H(#illa t %e sa*e+ and slw+ and stead(+ and
nt t ris' an(thing *r the sa'e * %rightness) He had l!ed
her *r a lng ti&e and he didn/t want t st$ .ust %e#ause she
was %e#&ing strange+ and wasn/t alwa(s entirel( hersel*) He
was #n!in#ed that he #uld l!e her+ i* nl( the wrld #uld
%e restred t $r$er rder)
I* nl()))
/C n+ 7athan+/ H(#illa said+ $ening her e(es a little
wider) /7 what Ni&ian sa(s) It/s *r the %est)/
Was it reall( H(#illa tal'ing+ 7athan wndered+ r was she
under the #ntrl * s&ene else , s&ething else6 It was a
*rightening thught+ %ut he had grwn s used t *ear %( nw
it was di**i#ult t #n#ei!e * an( thught su**i#ientl( $wer,
*ul t add an e-tra &easure t the terrr he alread( *elt)
/I wuldn/t 'nw whi#h wa( t g+/ 7athan %.e#ted+ in a
lw tne) /I need (u t #&e with &e)/
/Gi!e (u guide+/ said Ni&ian) He rea#hed u$ t his head
and $ulled ut ne * the hairs *r& the t$ * his head) Then
he wra$$ed it twi#e arund the little *inger * his le*t hand+
and used his teeth t 'nt it tight) 7athan nti#ed that the *in,
gernail had grwn lnger+ thi#'er and dar'er+ s that it was
nw &re li'e a #law)
When the 'nt was se#ure+ Ni&ian,the,&nster , as
7athan was %eginning t thin' * hi& , t' the %ase * his
wn le*t little *inger %etween the thu&% and *re*inger * his
right hand+ and #asuall( sna$$ed it **)
N %ld *lwed *r& the wund)
Ni&ian gt hld * the *ree end * the hair and held it u$+
s that the se!ered *inger dangled *reel() It swi!elled le*t and
then right+ s#illating *r a se#nd r tw %e*re settling
dwn)
That wa(+> said the &nster+ %landl() /Fllw the *inger)
Find Ga!aln) Bring wi1ards) Sn) Sa#ri*i#es will #&e)/
/What 'ind * sa#ri*i#es6/ 7athan as'ed+ althugh s&e,
thing inside hi& was tr(ing t tell hi& that he reall( didn/t
want t 'nw) He #uldn/t %ring hi&sel* t rea#h ut his hand
t ta'e the $r**ered #har&)
When is ti&e t %u&+> Ni&ian re$lied+ /we %u&)/
Ta'e the *inger+ 7athan+/ H(#illa said+ dull() /Shw it t
Ga!aln , he/ll understand what it &eans) He/ll 'nw what t
d)/
/I/& nt sure)))/ 7athan %egan)
/9OU dn/t ha!e t %e sure+/ H(#illa tld hi&+ %rutall() /9u
.ust ha!e t d it) Fr &e) Fr the !illage) Fr the wrld)/
/I dn/t want t lea!e (u)/
/It was nl( an a##ident that %rught us tgether in the *irst
$la#e+/ she said) /I ha!e t sta( here+ t $la( &( $art) Fr (u)
Fr the !illage) Fr the wrld) Fr the gd * Gul1a#andra)/
/9u/re nt sa*e with hi&+/ 7athan $ersisted) /Whate!er he
is+ whate!er he %e#&es+ he/s nt sa*e t %e arund)/
There is n sa*et(+/ H(#illa tld hi&) There/s nl( war ,
nl( the ga&e)/
/It/s nt a ga&e+/ 7athan insisted) /It/s li*e and death)
Es$e#iall( death)/
/C+> she said) /7 what (u ha!e t d) Fr us) I a& he and
he is (u) Fr all * us) Fr &e)/ This ti&e+ 7athan nti#ed+ she
had le*t ut the !illage and the wrld , and the gd *
Gul1a#andra+ wh was s&eti&es #alled the Changer * the
Wa(s+ the 7i!ine S#he&er) It was a gd $l(3 7athan wasn/t
sure what he was willing t d *r the !illage+ the wrld and
the gd he had wrshi$$ed sin#e %irth+ %ut he did 'nw what
he was willing t d *r H(#illa)
An(thing)
Gingerl( 7athan t' the #har& that Ni&ian was still hld,
ing ut t hi&+ and wra$$ed the *ree end * the hair arund
his right *re*inger+ s that the dar'ened nail * the dangling
*inger #uld $int whi#he!er wa( it wanted t) Then he $i#'ed
u$ an $en #anister * water and t' a dee$ swig %e*re
s#rewing the #a$ %a#' n and returning it t his $a#')
/Hw *ar d I ha!e t g6/ he as'ed)
/I dn/t 'nw+> H(#illa said) /Rest when (u ha!e t , ten
&inutes e!er( hur+ as %est (u #an #al#ulate , %ut dn/t st$
t slee$) 5ee$ ging) There isn/t &u#h ti&e)/
7athan was #n!in#ed %( nw that althugh H(#illa/s
&uth was *r&ing the wrds+ there was anther intelligen#e
%ehind the& , $erha$s+ hwe!er $arad-i#al it &ight see&+
the sa&e intelligen#e that #uldn/t (et $ersuade Ni&ian/s
!#al a$$aratus t *r& a $r$er senten#e)
7athan l'ed hard at Ni&ian+ %ut all Ni&ian said was4
=er( hungr() 8ust %ring *d)/
7athan didn/t want t thin' a%ut what that &ight in!l!e+
%ut when he #ndes#ended t %e $ushed utside he sn gt
a #lue)
A *a&il( * &was , $r%a%l( the sa&e nes that he had seen
running awa( when he e&erged *r& the red,and,%la#' *rest ,
was s$rinting twards the *ar&huse) The( were nl( *lightless
%irds+ %ut the adults were taller than an( &an and the( were
!er( stut arund the waist) 7athan su$$ressed a !isin *
Ni&ian %rea'ing their ne#'s and #h$$ing the& u$ %e*re
wl*ing the& dwn ne %( ne , *eathers+ talns and all+
The stlen uni*r& wuld ha!e n #han#e at all * #ntain,
ing the su%se2uent e-$ansin+ %ut 7athan didn/t su$$se that
#lthes were ging t %e a signi*i#ant $ririt( n#e the hungr(
%(/s legs and trs %egan t *llw the e-a&$le * his ears
and *ind their e!entual *r&) He re&e&%ered the $attern he
had gli&$sed n Ni&ian/s na'ed %d( when he had *irst seen
hi&+ and realised that it &ight ha!e %een a $attern in &re
than ne sense * the wrd) It &ight ha!e %een a $lan+ li'e
thse that #ar$enters and wea!ers s#rat#hed in the sand while
tr(ing t rganise their thughts)
It wasn/t .ust the &was that were #&ing twards the
huse+ either+ althugh the rest were re$tiles and &egas#ara%s)
A$$arentl( Ni&ian wasn/t hungr( enugh t ta#'le a l-,
dnt (et+ %ut there didn/t see& t 7athan t %e &u#h
#&*rt in the #autius /(et/)
S&e * the re$tiles $assed right %( hi&+ %ut nne * the
sna'es hissed at hi& r reared u$ t threaten a stri'e) The *in,
ger see&ed t %e ding &re than $int his wa(3 $erha$s it
had $rte#ti!e $wer t)
7athan did e-a#tl( as he had %een tld) There was a #ertain
#&*rt t %e *und in the sense * $ur$se that %edien#e
ga!e hi&) N &atter hw s#ared he was * what &ight lie at
his .urne(/s end+ ha!ing rders t *llw was %etter than ha!,
ing n idea at all what t d)
When he had %een ging *r a%ut an hur , he had n wa(
* 'nwing the e-a#t ti&e , he st$$ed *r a *ew &inutes/
rest) On#e he had ta'en a drin'+ hwe!er+ and rested his *eet
%( sitting dwn n a giant &ushr& *r a while+ he set **
again)
He &ade stead( $rgress+ e!en thugh his legs were a#hing)
While he was n the &!e he didn/t *eel undul( slee$(+ s he
'e$t &!ing) His #ns#ius &ind %e#a&e dull and the *lw *
his thughts %e#a&e !is#us , %ut his *eelings were ut *
ste$+ and there was a $e#uliar e-#ite&ent in his %ell() He lst
tra#' * ti&e as he strde a#rss the alien lands#a$e+ %ut there
was s&ething dee$ inside hi& that see&ed t re.i#e in his
&!e&ent)
The sun was well int its a*ternn de#line when 7athan
ran int the %east&en)
He was $assing thrugh a nati!e wd at the ti&e4 ne that
was nt 2uite as s$e#ta#ularl( dd as the #rn,#% *rest in
whi#h he had *und hi&sel* when the tru#' ran ut * *uel+
%ut whi#h was ne!ertheless $e#uliar) S&e * the trees were
d&%erries+ whi#h were as si&ilar t i&$rted !egetatin as
nati!e !egetatin e!er gt+ %ut &st had shin( s#ales that
&ade their %les and %ran#hes l' &re li'e &etal than
wd+ and their *ruits were li'e &edallins)
He had s&elled the %east&en %e*re he a#tuall( saw the&+
%ut he hadn/t %een a%le t re#gnise the dur+ and nl(
realised hw *ul it was when he *und ut where it was #&,
ing *r&)
7athan was du&%stru#' with terrr+ %ut terrr see&ed t
ha!e lst its &eaning and he *elt ddl( #lear,headed+ ddl(
&e#hani#al) The se!ered *inger was still dangling *r& its
thread %eneath his wn *re*inger+ %ut there was a $arad-i,
#al sense in whi#h he see&ed t %e dangling *r& it+ &ee'l(
*llwing its dire#tin+ una%le t d &re with hi&sel* than
$int and $r#eed)
Under ther #ir#u&stan#es+ he wuld ha!e %een 2uite #n,
!in#ed that the &nstrus %east&en were a%ut t $un#e n
hi&+ rend hi& li&% *r& li& and &a'e a &eal * hi&+ %ut
with the *inger t guide hi& he *elt as i* he+ nt the(+ were the
real &nster and that the(+ nt he+ std in the greater danger
* %eing rent asunder and #nsu&ed)
There were si- %east&en in all , three with heads sugges,
ti!e * l$sided #attle+ ne with a haw'/s head+ ne that was
&re li'e a $ig/s than an(thing else 7athan #uld $ut a na&e
t+ and ne with the *a#e * s&e night&arish #ari#ature *
an a$e) The( were all shagg(+ e-#e$t *r the $igg( ne+ and
the( &stl( had legs li'e %ears+ e-#e$t *r the tw &wa,
legged nes) The( were ar&ed with an assrt&ent * a-es and
s$ears+ althugh there wasn/t ne * the& that #uldn/t ha!e
trn hi& li&% *r& li&% with their %are hands , r #laws+ in
the #ases * thse that didn/t a#tuall( ha!e hands as su#h)
The( had %een sitting r l(ing dwn+ %ut when the( #aught
sight * hi& the( all #a&e t their *eet and &!ed t %ar his
wa()
On an( ther da( * his li*e su#h a &eeting wuld ha!e
#aused 7athan t *aint with hrrr+ r t run awa( as *ast as
he #uld+ h$ing t hang n t the #ntents * his #ln)
Tda(+ hwe!er+ he si&$l( st$$ed+ and li*ted his right hand
a little higher in rder t dis$la( the talis&an that was dan,
gling *r& his *re*inger)
/I/& l'ing *r Ga!aln the Great+/ he said) /I ha!e a &es,
sage *r hi&)
The %east&en l'ed at hi&+ their !arius e(es s2uinting
slightl( as the( weighed hi& u$) He &!ed his hand a little+
tr(ing t draw their attentin t his un#ann( #&$ass) Their
attentin was dul( drawn)
The( grunted t ne anther+ unhurriedl(+ %ut the( didn/t
#&e an( #lser)
/Ca!aln+/ 7athan re$eated+ *iguring that the( were $r%a,
%l( stu$ider than the a!erage hu&an) /7 (u 'nw Ga!aln6
Can (u ta'e &e t hi&6 7n/t wrr( i* (u #an/t , I/&
alread( $inted in the right dire#tin) All (u ha!e t d is let
&e $ass) 9u will let &e $ass+ wn/t (u6/
The %east&en didn/t re$l(+ and the( didn/t &!e)
7athan realised+ relu#tantl(+ that he wuld ha!e t &ar#h
right u$ t the& and $ass thrugh their ragged line) The stin'
see&ed suddenl( !er$wering+ and the idea * #&ing
within ar&/s rea#h * the #reatures was e-tre&el( una$$eal,
ing+ %ut he 'new that he had t d it and he 'new that he
#uld d it)
Ner!usl(+ he set ne *t in *rnt * the ther , and then+
*iguring that he was #&&itted+ wal'ed *rward %ldl() He
e-tended his right ar& s that the &nstrus *inger $re#eded
hi& %( as wide a &argin as he #uld #ntri!e) He &ade u$ his
&ind that he wuld $ass %etween a %ull,head with an a-e and
the s$ear,wielding a$e,thing)
The( didn/t &!e until the last $ssi%le &&ent+ %ut the(
did &!e su**i#ientl( t let hi& $ass withut tu#hing either
* the&) Their nearness was re$ulsi!e+ %ut the *a#t * his %eing
a%le t %ear it was strangel( e-hilarating) As sn as he was
thrugh+ while still within eas( rea#h * a s$ear,thrust+ he *elt
his heart lea$)
I/& a %ra!e &an+ he thught+ re.i#ing in the sur$rise * it)
I reall( a& a &an+ and %ra!e) It was nt the *irst ti&e he had
thught * hi&sel* as s&ething ther than a %( , *ar *r&
it , %ut it was the *irst ti&e he had had ##asin t #all hi&,
sel* %ra!e) He had nt %een %ra!e in the .ude(e *rest+ r at the
$l+ r at the *ar&huse+ %ut he had $assed thrugh the ran'
*%east&en with irn in his sul)
I a& in this war+ he thught+ whether I li'e it r nt) I a& a
*ighter nw+ and I &ust d whate!er I #an t se#ure ur !i#,
tr() Fr the !illage) Fr the wrld) Fr glr()
On the *ar side * the wd+ he saw the *ringes * the
en#a&$ed ar&(4 its &(riad tents and wagns+ and its &ulti,
*arius #lured %anners+ *la$$ing la1il( in the %ree1e) There
were ther sentries t $ass+ %ut nne s *right*ul as thse he
had *irst en#untered+ and he *und &en with !i#es sn
enugh+ wh nt nl( understd the na&e * Ca!aln the
Great %ut were willing and a%le t re$l( t his en2uiries)
/Wh sent (u6/ as'ed ne tall &an , the *irst $ersn n his
wn side 7athan had seen with a gun4 a slee' ri*le with a $l,
ished %arrel)
/Ni&ian+/ 7athan tld hi&) That/s what he said his na&e
was+ at an( rate , %e*re he %egan t #hange int s&ething
else)/
The &an/s e(es narrwed at that+ %ut he was .ust a *ighting
&an+ nt a wise,drea&er) He %!iusl( 'new little r nth,
ing a%ut what Ni&ian had %een+ let alne what he was
%e#&ing)
/We , that is t sa(+ a girl na&ed H(#illa and I , were
a&%ushed ne-t t a $l last night+ a lng wa( t the east+/
7athan e-$lained) /We/d run awa( *r& the !illage when the
I&$erial sldiers #a&e+ h$ing t rea#h El!enr+ %ut the(
#a&e a*ter us in tru#'s) I thin' Ni&ian 'illed the& all+ %ut I/&
nt sure) We gt awa( in a tru#')/
The ri*le&an was #a$a%le * understanding that) His e(es
widened again) /Tru#'s6 I&$erial sldiers6/ he said) /C&e
with &e , (u/ll need t tell the #&&anders where and hw
&an(+ and what guns the( had) The(/re su$$sed t %e s&e
wa( ** t the nrth+ as (et) The(/re nt su$$sed t %e less
than a da( awa( in the east)/
The( aren/t nw+/ 7athan assured hi&) /I* there were an(
le*t ali!e+ the( #an/t ha!e nu&%ered &re than a d1en)/
I* the ri*le&an %elie!ed hi& it didn/t lessen his sense *
urgen#() He hustled 7athan thrugh the #a&$+ twards the
tent that %re the &st stri'ing %anner * the& all4 a huge e(e
that e&itted an irresisti%le %last * 'illing *r#e) 7athan
realised that he had seen it %e*re+ in his drea&s) 7id that
&ean that he was a wise,drea&er nw6 He #uldn/t %elie!e it+
and tld hi&sel* that he &ust ha!e seen s&ething li'e it
%e*re+ when he was t (ung t re&e&%er)
Inside the tent+ 7athan saw Ga!aln the Great *r the *irst
ti&e) He had n di**i#ult( whatse!er in $i#'ing the sr#erer ut
*r& the #rwd that surrunded hi&3 he had ne!er seen an(ne
s s$e#ta#ularl( ugl(+ r an(ne with su#h &nstrus e(es)
7athan wat#hed the ri*le&an sta&&er ut his str(+ and
saw Ga!aln wa!e a huge hand negligentl(+ as i* t indi#ate
that the news was n news at all) Then the sr#erer turned+ t
dire#t thse awes&el( inti&idating e(es at 7athan) As
Ca!aln #a&e twards hi&+ 7athan the !aliant drew hi&sel*
u$ t his *ull height and dis$la(ed the *inger that had %rught
hi& here)
As sn as Ga!aln saw what 7athan was hlding al*t
%e*re his *a#e the sr#erer/s %rad &uth %r'e ut int an
e-$ansi!e s&ile+ e-$sing tw great rws * .agged (ellw
teeth)
Where is he6/ Ga!aln wanted t 'nw) /We &ust *ind hi&
, there/s n ti&e at all t lse) Ful%ra is #&ing at us *ull tilt+
and we d nt ha!e ar&s enugh t hld hi& **) Is he well
and strng6 Where is he6/
/He wants (u t #&e t hi&+/ 7athan said+ a little %reath,
lessl() /Bring wi1ards+ he said+ and,/
/And what6/ Ga!aln the Great was a!id t 'nw)
/He said s&ething a%ut sa#ri*i#es+> 7athan #n#luded+
relu#tantl() /He said that sa#ri*i#es are #&ing))) and that he
will %ring shi$s)/
<
FOURTEEN
IERIUS FUI)BRA PULLE7 a %lan'et !er his head and shulders and
#ru#hed dwn in the dit#h as the e-$lsi!e #harges went **)
He win#ed slightl( as great g%s * &ud rained dwn n the
%lan'et+ al&st tearing it *r& his hands) A general had t $r,
te#t his uni*r&+ r what 'ind * e-a&$le wuld he %e setting
t his &en6 He had nt &erel( t a$$ear t %e the %ra!est *
the %ra!e+ %ut als the neatest * the neat) He was *ighting *r
rder+ a*ter all+ against the insidius and hrri*i# ra!ages *
Chas , and i* that thught i&$rted a little dread int his
wn trained &ind+ hw &u#h &re dread wuld it i&$rt int
the &inds * his less enlightened *llwers6
Ful%ra 'new that his *llwers wuld %e glad t %e n the
&!e+ glad t %e in a#tin+ glad t %e ding the hl( wr' *
the %el!ed E&$err , hw #uld it %e therwise when the
anti#i$atin * that gladness had %een s thrughl(
dru&&ed int the&6 But the( wuld %e a$$rehensi!e t) I*
the thught * Ragan Bal%erith/s $s('ers was enugh t %ring
the& ut in a #ld sweat+ what wuld the $rs$e#t * *a#ing a
#ntinent *ull * alien $s('ers d t the&+ i* the ntin were
allwed t ta'e rt6 The( wuld sa( their $ra(ers and $er*r&
their rituals and *ire their guns with all the &e#hani#al
regularit( their drill,sergeants had %een a%le t #ntri!e+ %ut
e!er( ti&e the( had a &&ent/s $ause *r thught there was a
$ssi%ilit( that du%t+ the &st insidius * all the ene&(/s
wea$ns+ &ight #&e t ##u$( it) At least the 'illing had s
*ar %een eas(+ and $r*use) There was nthing li'e a gd
&assa#re t &aintain &rale) Blasting %arri#ades a$art wasn/t
2uite as satis*(ing+ thugh) It was *ten tedius wr'+ withut
the hint * a thrill)
The %arri#ade was the si-th the( had en#untered tda( %ut
nl( the se#nd that had re2uired e-$lsi!e #harges t %e set
within it) Shells *ired %( %lters had %een ade2uate t ta'e #are
* the thers) It was a waste * gd a&&unitin+ * #urse+
%ut ne#essar() Althugh the tru#'s #arr(ing Ful%ra/s !anguard ,
e!en the nes #arr(ing the $re#ius #ater$illar,tra#'ed %attle,
tan's , were thereti#all( #a$a%le * handling rugh terrain+
the( &!ed a great deal *aster i* the( stu#' t what $assed *r
rads in these %ar%arian $arts)
Ful%ra ga!e the *ilth( %lan'et t an rderl( and &!ed
swi*tl( %a#' t his ar&ured #ar+ signalling Clnels Ha&era
and 7ia&%r t *llw hi&) Li'e &st * the ther !ehi#les in
his retinue the #ar was l#all(,%uilt) Furteen * the tan's and
si-teen * the tr$,#arriers were riginals+ Le&an Russ and
Chi&eras and Sala&anders+ %ut n *ast,&!ing !ehi#les had
sur!i!ed the tw hundred (ears sin#e the landing e-#e$t *r the
air#ra*t that 8el#arth wuld nt let hi& ha!e) E!en the &tr,
#(#les his s#uts used had #&e ut * 5ala1endran *a#tries+
althugh their relati!e si&$li#it( &eant that the( were &u#h
&re si&ilar t riginal designs than the hea!ier !ehi#les)
The Sala&ander #&&and !ehi#le that Ful%ra used while the
%rigade was n the &!e was lightl( ar&ured+ %ut it was &re
&aneu!ra%le than its lu&$en 'in , &u#h &re s than the
*rtress,n,wheels t whi#h he wuld retreat when the serius
*ighting started) Gi!en that the ene&( had !astl( in*erir *ire,
$wer+ he had de#ided that &%ilit( was his *irst $ririt( *r
the &&ent+ whi#h was wh( his hea!( tan's had %een laded
n t tru#'s instead * lu&%ering int Gul1a#andra at their
wn statel( $a#e)
It was %!ius t Ful%ra that Clnel Ha&era wuld ha!e
$re*erred t sit sa*el( inside an riginal tan' e!en when there
was n %!ius need+ %ut Ha&era !alued his $sitin as the
general/s #hie* aide,de,#a&$ t &u#h t raise an( %.e#tin ,
all the &re s with 7ia&%r read( t ste$ int his shes at a
&&ent/s nti#e) Ful%ra was all in *a!ur * .ealus( and #&,
$etitin a&ng his senir sta** , it shar$ened u$ e!er(ne/s
$er*r&an#e and added a ne#essar( seasning * re#'lessness
t their %attle,ta#ti#s) En!(+ i* $r$erl( #hannelled+ #uld %e
.ust as use*ul in its wn *ashin as $iet() A gd **i#er had t
%e taught t l!e the E&$err+ hate heres(+ and 'ee$ !er( #are,
*ul a##unt * the $rgress * his ri!als)
Un*rtunatel(+ the ene&( als see&ed t 'nw that &%ilit(
was the in!ading *r#es/ *irst $ririt(+ and the swine were ding
e!er(thing the( #uld t slw the in!aders dwn) The( were
setting *ire t their *ields as the( retreated+ %urning wden
%ridges+ tu&%ling %ulders int narrw #an(ns and s#attering
#altr$s in the h$e * $un#turing the t(res * the I&$erial
!ehi#les) There was a %arri#ade in e!er( !illage+ n &atter hw
&a'eshi*t+ and i* the !illage were large enugh there wuld %e
sni$ers $sted n the r*s * the huses %e(nd the %arri#ade)
Onl( ne sni$er in three had a ri*le+ %ut thse wh used %ws
were s'illed ar#hers and their arrws #uld d nearl( as &u#h
da&age as a %ullet i* the( hit unar&ured *lesh) S *ar+ #asual,
ties n his wn side had %een tri!ial+ %ut ti&e was n the side
* the de*enders+ *r nw) On#e the !i#tr( was wn+ the !i#trs
wuld ha!e all the ti&e in the wrld t hunt dwn the tainted
and slaughter the lt+ %ut until then)))
/News6/ Ful%ra %ar'ed at the !- $eratr as sn as he had
ta'en his seat again)
/Nthing *r& the s#uting,$art( sent ut *r& Odienne+ sir+/
the $eratr re$lied+ as the #ar gt under wa(+ ta'ing its #us,
t&ar( slt in the #lu&n) The !illage itsel* is se#ure+ %ut the
#&&ander hasn/t heard a wrd *r& the &en sent t *ind the
d&e,sha$ed r#')/
/It &ust %e an e2ui$&ent %rea'dwn+/ Ha&era $ut in) /Hw
#uld an a&%ush ha!e ta'en the& ut s 2ui#'l( that the(
didn/t e!en get a #han#e t #all *r hel$6/
That/s what I/d li'e t 'nw+/ Ful%ra grwled) /7n/t &a'e
the &ista'e * thin'ing that these $e$le are hel$less+ r ta#ti,
#all( in#a$a%le) The(/re nt hnest *ighting,&en+ li'e us ,
the(/re nast(+ #rru$t and underhanded) Tell the #&&ander at
Odienne t *ind ut what ha$$ened+ and t &a'e sure that
when his &en ha!e *und ut+ the( get the news t us i&&e,
diatel() An(thing else+ #r$ral6/
The !- $eratr hesitated &&entaril(+ %ut then said4
There/s %een an atte&$t n the li*e * the Chie* In2uisitr)
Unsu##ess*ul+ than's %e t the E&$err)/
/E-$e#ta%le+/ 7ia&%r said) The l#als &ight %e se$arated
*r& the sites * the First Cn2uest %( thusands * &iles+ %ut
the #ults ha!e their wn lines * #&&uni#atin) There was
%und t %e an in#rease in terrrist a#ti!it( in Sstenut when
things %egan t get ht herea%uts) Our &en ha!e the &easure
* the&+ thugh , all $raise t the E&$err 8agni*i#ent0/
/I su$$se s+/ said Ful%ra+ du%iusl() He had his wn ther(
as t wh &ight %e res$nsi%le *r the atte&$ted assassinatin
* Ragan Bal%erith+ %ut he 'new that it wuldn/t %e $liti# t
&entin it here and nw) He #ursed suddenl( as an arrw
%un#ed ** the $lasti# windw t his le*t+ lea!ing an ugl( s#ar
in the trans$arent $ane)
It was a wasted sht , the #ar had nl( a *ew s2uare in#hes
* sur*a#e !ulnera%le t the 'inds * &issiles that sni$ers had
at their dis$sal , %ut it was nt withut a #ertain s(&%li#
!alue)
The shar$shters in the turrets * the leading Chi&era
tr$,#arriers were %lasting awa( in e!er( dire#tin+ %ut Ful%ra
#uldn/t see whether their shts were ha!ing an( e**e#t %e#ause
there was t &u#h s&'e) The huses herea%uts were
&stl( %uilt * wd and e!en thse that were &ade * stne
r %ri#' *ten had that#hed r*s+ s the *ires set in the *ields
usuall( s$read t the dwellings and gutted the& i* the wind
$ushed the& in that dire#tin)
/I&%e#iles+> Ha&era #&&ented) The(/re destr(ing their
$r$ert( and their *uture li!elihds *r the sa'e * slwing us
dwn %( a #u$le * hurs a da() I* the(/d .ust let us thrugh
and lend us a little su$$rt the( &ight %e a%le t 'ee$ what
the( ha!e , under new &anage&ent+ * #urse+ n#e we/!e
se#ured the territr() Wh( shuld the( #are wh rules in
Rintrah+ r whi#he!er * their sha%%( twns %e#&es the new
#a$ital6 7 their #urrent &asters treat the& an( &re 'indl(
than we wuld6 N) 8u#h wrse+ $r%a%l(+ gi!en that the(/re
e!il,wrshi$$ers) Peasants0 Shit *r %rains+ the lt * the&)/
Ful%ra 'new %etter than Ha&era what wuld ha$$en when
the #n2uest was #&$lete) On#e the in2uisitrs gt %us( the
wners * the *ields herea%uts wuld %e under the new &an,
age&ent * whate!er !ile a*terli*e their *ul gd #ared t
$r!ide *r the&) S&e *ew * the& &ight #n#ei!a%l( %e
untainted+ %ut hw #uld an(ne %e #ertain whi#h6 Best t 'ill
the lt and let the gds srt the& ut)
A *inal $un#tuatin &ar' was a$$ended t Ha&era/s s$ee#h
%( the s$ang * a %ullet ri##heting *r& the steel,$late sur,
rund) Ha&era &uttered a su$$le&entar( #urse+ then shi*ted
slightl( in his seat as he added a 2ui#' $ra(er)
The(/!e %een taught t hate us with a $assin that de*ies all
reasn+> 7ia&%r said+ la#ni#all() The( #an/t %egin t under,
stand that the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind is the nl( thing that
stands %etween the *r#es * #rru$tin and d&inin !er the
entire uni!erse) It/s hard e!en *r ur wn $e$le+ gi!en the
duratin * ur islatin)/
We are still $art * the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind+ $raise %e t
the E&$err+/ Ful%ra grwled+ re&e&%ering wh( he 'e$t
Ha&era in $la#e as his se#nd,in,#&&and+ e!en thugh
7ia&%r was the &re intelligent &an) /Se!en generatins *
se$aratin and the ne#essit( * &anu*a#turing ur wn rd,
nan#e dn/t &a'e an( di**eren#e t ur $ur$se) We/re the
E&$err/s trusted ser!ants+ and we &ust ne!er *rget it) One
da( , $erha$s in ur wn li*eti&es , #nta#t with the Fleet will
%e restred) I* and when that glrius da( #&es+ we ha!e t %e
a%le t hld ur heads high and sa(4 We did what was e-$e#ted
* us) We held t ur dut(+ n &atter what %sta#les were $ut
in ur wa()/
/It/s nt e-a#tl( news+ sir+ %ut)))/ the !-,#aster $eratr $ut
in+ tentati!el()
/But what6/ Ful%ra wanted t 'nw)
There/s a ru&ur that shi$s * the Fleet are near%(+ waiting
*r the war$str& t ease su**i#ientl( t $er&it a landing)/
@What d (u &ean+ a ru&ur6/ Ful%ra de&anded) /Either we
ha!e !- #nta#t r we dn/t) I* this is true+ it/s the &st !ital
news that we/!e had in #enturies) This #uld #hange e!er(thing)/
/A $s('er is said t ha!e &ade #nta#t * a srt+ sir+/ the !-
$eratr said+ *ailing t su$$ress a slight shudder) The wrd is
that an( shi$s that are ut there &ust %e t *ar ** t get !-
&essages %a#' and *rth withut an una##e$ta%le ti&e lag+
e!en i* the str& wasn/t gar%ling the signals+ althugh
8el#arth/s te#h,$riests are tr(ing as hard as Bal%erith/s $e$le)/
Ful%ra/s re$l( t that was di$l&ati#all( wrdless) He
wuldn/t allw te#h,$riests in his wn ar&ured #ar+ n &atter
hw use*ul their $ra(ers were t the &aintenan#e * e2ui$&ent
and &rale+ %e#ause the tw things he hated &st * all were
%a#'#hat and #n*used $ririties) N ne #uld a##use te#h,
$riests * la#'ing dis#i$line+ %ut it wasn/t &ilitar( dis#i$line+
and n &atter what an(%d( &ight sa( a%ut unit( * &ethd
and $ur$se+ there was still an %!ius di**eren#e %etween &en
wh said their $ra(ers as the( $assed and used their
a&&unitin and &en wh &erel( said $ra(ers) Ful%ra didn/t
li'e $s('ers an( &re than the ne-t &an+ %ut he 'new that
Bal%erith/s $s('ers were *ar &re li'el( t esta%lish tele$athi#
#nta#t with I&$erial shi$s than 8el#arth/s te#h,$riests were t
get a !- &essage thrugh+ e!en i* 8el#arth/s &en were reall(
tr(ing)
Let it %e true0 he said t hi&sel*) Fr the l!e * the E&$err+
let it %e true0 Then he re&inded hi&sel*+ duti*ull(+ that it was
nl( a ru&ur+ and that he had %attles t *ight and &assa#res
t &anage) He als re&inded hi&sel* that an( intelligen#e
gained %( Ragan Bal%erith/s $s('ers ught t %e re#'ned du%i,
us+ gi!en that their $wers had t %e %sted %( the sa&e
drugs that the a%rigine drea&ers used , drugs that were
undu%tedl( tainted)
7es$ite the $!ert( * their e2ui$&ent and their relati!e
dearth * true $urestrain i&&igrant %ld+ lerius Ful%ra had
e!er( #n*iden#e in the *a#t that the *ighting,&en * his ar&(
were .ust as %ra!e+ .ust as deter&ined and .ust as well,trained as
the agents * the First Cn2uest , %ut that #n*iden#e did nt
e-tend t the s,#alled in2uisitrs * the s,#alled Ade$tus
Terra) He res$e#ted Ragan Bal%erith as a &an+ %ut he was nt at
all sure that Bal%erith wuld %e as easil( re#gnisa%le as a #g
in the great &a#hine * the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind as he hi&,
sel* wuld+ r e!en Orl# 8el#arth)
A##rding t the se#ret histr( #are*ull( handed dwn t
Ful%ra %( his *re*athers+ the $s('ers * the gala-(,s$anning
I&$eriu& * 8an'ind were the glue that held the I&$eriu&
tgether) The( &aintained the Astrn&i#an+ trans&itted &es,
sages !er interstellar distan#es and na!igated starshi$s) What
the( did nt d+ unless his &re i&&ediate *re*athers had
#ntri!ed t lse the rele!ant in*r&atin+ was t *un#tin as
what the a%rigines * Sig&atus #alled /wise,drea&ers/)
The hand*ul * $s('ers wh had a##&$anied the riginal
e-$lratr( &issin had %een atta#hed t it in rder t rela(
in*r&atin a%ut Sig&atus %a#' t the Fleet+ s that a rea,
sned de#isin #uld %e &ade as t hw the wrld ught t %e
de!el$ed) On#e that $ur$se had %een nulli*ied %( #ir#u&,
stan#e+ e!en &re s when the riginal $s('ers had %een
re$la#ed as ne generatin ga!e wa( t anther+ new rles had
had t %e *und r designed *r the&) The Chie* In2uisitr/s
$s('ers were .ust as inti&idating as their *re%ears had $re,
su&a%l( %een+ and their %usiness was e2uall( shruded in
&(ster(3 Ful%ra 'new that the( had %e#&e an i&$rtant ele,
&ent * the war against the a%rigine #ultists+ %ut he was nt
#n!in#ed that their rle was entirel( rthd-) Bal%erith was
as stead*ast a ser!ant * the I&$eriu& as an(ne nw ali!e n
Sig&atus+ %ut Ful%ra s&eti&es wndered whether he &ight
ha!e &ade a terri%le &ista'e in tr(ing t turn the &ethds *
the Gul1a#andran #ults against the&)
Perha$s+ he thught+ this su$$sed news is a !ile tri#'+
wr'ed %( ur ene&ies in rder t de*le#t ur h$es and ur
intentin *r& ur $resent &issin) Wh 'nws what hideus
su%tleties these hrrid sr#erers &a( %e #a$a%le *6
The ar&ured #ar had *inall( #leared the *ields surrunding
the !illage+ and Ful%ra was grate*ul t %e a%le t draw *resh air
int his lungs again) Nw that the( had $assed thrugh the
swirling s&'e+ !isi%ilit( was gd+ althugh the range * his
!isin was li&ited %( the densit( * the l#al !egetatin)
lerius Ful%ra had %een %rn in the hills * nrthern
5ala1endra+ and he had grwn u$ with .agged hri1ns * dis,
tant $ea's) The tru%le with *lat $lains+ he thught+ was that
the( had n stand$ints *r& whi#h a &an #uld see *r &an(
a &ile) E!en when there were n #lu&$s * nast( !egetatin in
the wa(+ it was di**i#ult t see *r &re than a *ew hundred
(ards+ and in this 'ind * war$,e-$sed lands#a$e+ #lu&$s *
nast( !egetatin were !er( #&&n indeed) There were $lent(
* trees that were re#gnisa%le as trees+ althugh their *liage
was s&eti&es $e#uliarl( #lured and their *ruits e-ti#+ %ut
there were *ar t &an( %ul%us grwths li'e giant *ungi r
twisted #a#ti)
Lng %e*re the I&$erial *r#es had arri!ed+ the nt,s,great
a%rigine #i!ili1atins * 5ala1endra+ "enda&ra and
Bul1a!ara had !er$lanted all %ut a *ew en#la!es * nati!e !eg,
etatin with earthl( $rdu#e) B( #ntrast+ the tw 'inds * li*e
had alwa(s ru%%ed shulders in 9e!el'ana+ and alien li*e still
ran rit in Cul1a#andra+ whse indlent and #rru$t inha%i,
tants had alwa(s %een #ntent t dwn tls at the %undaries
* their wn *ields) The terrain !er whi#h the in!aders were
nw s$eeding see&ed &re $r*undl( alien than an(thing
Ful%ra had e!er seen %e*re)
/Bi'es re$rting in+ sir+> the !- $eratr said) The rad/s
#lear *r the ne-t *i!e &iles+ %ut then there/s a %ridge dwn)
Slw,&!ing ri!er at least twel!e *eet dee$+ twent(,*i!e (ards
a#rss) The engineers ught t %e a%le t wr' uni&$eded+
thugh , there/s n #!er *r sni$ers n the ther side and a
#u$le * %lter,%lasts shuld ta'e #are * the *lan'ing !egeta,
tin)/
What/s %e(nd the ri!er,#rssing6/ Ful%ra wanted t 'nw)
/8re * the sa&e *r at least a &ile) Then a #luster * r*s
, anther !illage) Can/t see %e(nd that)/
/Hw a& I e-$e#ted t &a'e $lans i* I/& %lind6/ Ful%ra #&,
$lained) /I need that air#ra*t , and wh( in the E&$err/s na&e
a& I #learing &a'eshi*t airstri$s e!er( ti&e I $ause i* thse
*ls in Sstenut dn/t intend t send it6 Hw a& I t *ind
ut where the #ultists/ ar&( is+ r hw nu&erus it is+ r what
its dis$sitin is+ i* I dn/t ha!e the air#ra*t6/
The(/re &stl( *ar&ers with $it#h*r's and %east&en with
a-es+/ Ha&era said) /It wn/t &atter all that &u#h hw &an(
there are and hw the(/re distri%uted)/
/It will i* we #an/t #at#h u$ with the& and in*li#t &assi!e
#asualties while the(/re &assed tgether+/ 7ia&%r $inted
ut) /I* the( realise n#e the(/!e gt a gd l' at us that the
nl( sensi%le $tin is t wage a guerilla war+ it &ight ta'e us
(ears t gain #ntrl * the regin) It wn/t %e eas( t &!e
#lnists *r& the ther #ntinents t su$$rt ur tr$s+
gi!en that the l#als ha!e destr(ed s &an( * their h&es
and *ar&s)/
/But the( are &assing *r a $it#hed %attle+ hwe!er &isguided
that &a( %e+/ Ha&era $inted ut) /We 'nw that &u#h+ and
we #an $r%a%l( *igure ut where) Surel( the(/ll want t inter,
#e$t us %e*re we #an %ring u$ the #a!alr( and the l-dnt
#r$s) The( &ust intend t $re!ent us *r& lin'ing u$ with the
suthern #ntingent)/
/It/s nt eas( t *igure ut what the( intend+ r wh(+/ 7ia&%r
&used) /Wh( *ight a %attle (u #an/t win+ when (u #uld wear
dwn the $$sitin %( attritin6 I* the( ha!e nthing u$ their
slee!es+ what #an the( %e thin'ing6 And i* the( ha!e+ wh(
ha!en/t Bal%erith/s $s('ers *und ut what it is6 There/s s&e,
thing nt right a%ut this su$$sed gathering * the ene&(
*r#es+ and I wish I #uld *igure ut what it is)/
The answer &ight %e si&$ler than it see&s+/ Ful%ra tld the
tw #lnels) /In 5ala1endra+ s&all gru$s * guerillas reall(
#uld li!e ** the #untr( *r &nths r (ears+ %e#ause &st *
what $asses *r wilderness there is earthl( $rdu#e , %ut l'
arund (u0 Withut their *ields+ there/s n wa( these $e$le
#an *ind enugh *d t 'ee$ the& ging) The( 'nw that i*
ur su$$l(,lines are %r'en we/ll %e in tru%le , %ut in rder
t $ut us in that 'ind * tru%le+ the( ha!e t $ut the&sel!es in
it t) The( #an/t *ight a lng drawn,ut guerilla war %e#ause
there aren/t enugh $la#es where the( #an sa*el( hle u$) The(
ha!e t islate us i* the( #an , %ut n#e the(/!e islated us+ the(
ha!e t deal with us as 2ui#'l( as $ssi%le) I* the( ha!e a
#han#e t d that+ n &atter hw sli&+ the(/ll $r%a%l( ta'e it)
Atta#'ing tan's and ar&ured #ars with hand,held wea$ns
&ight see& *utile t an( sensi%le strategist+ %ut i* the( #an nl(
get enugh *ighters t #lse 2uarters+ the( &ight d a lt *
da&age with s$ears and #lu%s+ let alne the 'ind * !ile tri#'s
that nl( hereti#s and &utants wuld use) That/s wh( I need t
'nw their e-a#t de$l(&ent)/
/In all *airness t G!ernr 8el#arth+/ 7ia&%r $ut in+ /air
sur!eillan#e wuldn/t ne#essaril( gi!e us the in*r&atin we
need+ gi!en the a%undan#e * #!er herea%uts) I* the tru#'s
that set ut *r& Odienne hadn/t gt lst+ the( wuld $r%a,
%l( ha!e %een &re use*ul t us)/
/But the( did get lst+/ Ful%ra $inted ut) /And i* that &an(
tru#'s #arr(ing that &u#h *ire$wer #an !anish n the instant+
withut e!en #ntri!ing t tell us what hit the&+ we &ight *ind
a si&ilarl( un$leasant sh#' awaiting us)/ But sr#er( #an %e
e-hausted+ .ust li'e an( ther 'ind * *ire$wer+ he thught+
during the $ause that *llwed) And i* the Fleet reall( were n
the %rin' * restring #nta#t+ all the sr#er( in the wrld
wuld %e i&$tent) I* we #uld su&&n a shi$ t ur aid+
i&agine what that #uld d t the ene&(0
The #&&and !ehi#le was slwing nw as it a$$ra#hed the
%r'en %ridge+ %ut the *la&e,thrwers &unted n the leading
tr$,#arrier had alread( %urnt %a#' the neigh%uring !egeta,
tin+ and the *ar %an' was s e&$t( that the &tr#(#le s#uts
hadn/t e!en %thered t ta'e #!er) The engineers were alread(
e-tending the &ain girders that wuld *r& the steel *ra&e *
a te&$rar( %ridge)
Tell the 2uarter&aster/s $e$le t test the water %e*re
renewing ur su$$lies+/ Ful%ra instru#ted the !- $eratr+
althugh he 'new that su#h $re#autins were rutine) /And
send the %i'e&en ut again as sn as we #an get the& a#rss)/
/9es sir+/ the !- $eratr re$lied) /All $raise t the E&$err
8agni*i#ent0/
Ful%ra #nte&$lated getting ut * the !ehi#le t stret#h his
legs+ %ut he didn/t need t and it was $r%a%l( %etter t let his
&en see that this was a thrughl( rutine $eratin) The(
wuld ha!e their wn an-ieties+ and ran'ers were ntrius *r
their a%ilit( t inter$ret e!er( tin( #ir#u&stan#e as a #ause *r
a$$rehensin) Oh *r a $latn * S$a#e 8arines+ r e!en
I&$erial Guards&en0 What an e-a&$le the( wuld set t his
*ee%le i&itatins0
What his &en needed+ * #urse+ was &re a#tin4 anther
eas( &assa#re+ #ndu#ted with %rutal e**i#ien#( and n lsses)
Un*rtunatel(+ the l#al ('els n lnger see&ed t ha!e the
least in#linatin t &a'e the&sel!es a!aila%le *r slaughter ,
nt+ at least+ %( the ene&( the( had %een taught t lathe)
What+ Ful%ra wndered+ #uld $ssi%l( ha!e ha$$ened t
the ad!an#e $art( sent ahead *r& Odienne6 Hw #uld tru#'s
#arr(ing that 'ind * *ire$wer ha!e run int tru%le in the
Gul1a#andran wilderness+ e!en i* the( were *ew in nu&%er6
And wh(+ against all reasn and #al#ulatin+ did he ha!e the
insistent #ree$(,#rawl( *eeling in his st&a#h that he usuall(
gt %e*re *ate s$rang a $arti#ularl( nast( sur$rise6
<
FIFTEEN
/CAN 9OU RI7E6/
7athan %lin'ed at the une-$e#ted 2uestin) /I/!e ridden a
hrse+ sir+/ he said+ wndering whether he ught t ad&it that
he had nl( ridden a !er( slw hrse at a !er( &derate $a#e+
and nt !er( *ten) He als wndered whether it was ade2uate
t address a &an as $wer*ul as Ga!aln as /sir/ , %ut he had
ne!er %een tld the $r$er wa( t address a sr#erer+ let alne
the su$re&e head * all the #!ens in Gul1a#andra) 8er#i*ull(+
Ni&ian/s *inger still see&ed t %e e-erting its %enign in*luen#e
!er hi&+ &aintaining his e2uili%riu& *ar %etter than he #uld
ha!e &aintained it hi&sel*)
/Gd+/ said Ga!aln) /I need t get t the =essel as sn as
$ssi%le) Our atte&$ts t dela( Ful%ra and string ut his *r#es
ha!e *ailed &isera%l() His engineers are t gd , ri!ers+
dit#hes and %urning *ields #an/t &a'e signi*i#ant %sta#les+ and
ur *ighting,&en #an/t get t #lse 2uarters with his unless the(
#an *ind a %etter wa( t st$ his tru#'s) It wuld %e a dire irn(
i* the ut#&e * this #n*li#t were t %e settled %( the nu&%er
* s$are t(res he/s #arr(ing and the s$eed with whi#h the( #an
%e #hanged) 9u/ll ha!e t shw &e where this wret#hed *ar&,
huse is) 8( %east&en #an *llw at their wn $a#e+ %ut I need
t get Sathrael t understand what is re2uired * hi&+ as sn
as he/s a%le t listen)/
/I/ll d &( %est+ sir+/ 7athan $r&ised)
He %egan t regret this $r&ise as sn as he saw the
&unts that Ga!aln/s ser!ants had $re$ared) There were *ur
in all3 althugh Ga!aln was $re$ared t hurr( ahead * his ret,
inue * %east&en he was #&$ensating *r their te&$rar(
lss %( ta'ing tw * his thrall,wi1ards+ A%dal'uri and
8alda(a') The steeds were de*initel( hrses+ %ut the( were
#lured *ar &re garishl( than an( hrses 7athan had e!er
seen+ range and 'ing*isher,%lue %eing the $red&inant
#lurs+ and their heads were ela%ratel( h&ed) Their tails
were nt &ade * rdinar( hrsehair+ %eing &re li'e rats/ tails+
and their unshd h!es were &assi!e) The saddles and %ridles
with whi#h the( were *itted were #n!entinal enugh+ %ut
the( had n %its in their &uths) The( see&ed as %i1arre t
7athan as the thrall,wi1ards+ whse *a#es were s#arred and
$ainted and whse leather( ar&ur was %rightl( stri$ed in red+
(ellw and green)
/7n/t wrr(+ 7athan+/ Ga!aln said+ when he t' nte *
the %(/s an-iet() The(/re &re a&ena%le than the( see&+ and
&re intelligent than an( ani&al (u/!e e!er en#untered)
On#e #nstrained t %e( (u+ this 'ind * steed will ser!e (u
!er( well)/
7athan hesitated again when the ti&e #a&e t &unt) He
was a whle *t shrter than the least * his #&$anins and
the stirru$ see&ed i&$ssi%l( high , %ut ne * Ga!aln/s
%east&en #a&e *rward t &a'e a ste$ with his huge hands+
and 7athan &anaged t s#ra&%le int the saddle)
+> ha!e &nsters t wait n &e nw0 he thught) 9esterda( I was
n ne+ %ut tda( I a& the e&issar( * a !er( $wer*ul $ersn
indeed0
Ca!aln $aused t shut a *ew &re instru#tins t his #&,
&anders) Then the( were **+ &!ing swi*tl( *r& a wal' t a
trt t a #anter)
Within &inutes+ the *ur #lured hrses were gall$ing
*aster than 7athan had e!er i&agined $ssi%le) As he %un#ed
in the thigh,stret#hing saddle he wndered what wuld ha!e
ha$$ened i* he had tld Ca!aln that he #uldn/t ride) In all
$r%a%ilit(+ he guessed+ Ga!aln wuld si&$l( ha!e ta'en the
dire#tin,*inding *inger *r& hi& and le*t hi& %ehind , and
that was de*initel( nt what he wanted) He was an-ius t get
%a#' t H(#illa as sn as $ssi%le) I* he had t learn t ride
the hard wa(+ s %e it)
8er#i*ull(+ his &unt was well,a##ust&ed t #arr(ing riders
and it was e-#e$tinall( sure,*ted) 7athan nl( had t
twit#h the %ridle t suggest a #hange * dire#tin and the
instru#tin was %e(ed) This deli#a#( allwed hi& t *ree the
hand t whi#h Ni&ian/s se!ered *inger was atta#hed+ s that it
#uld instru#t hi& as t the $athwa(s that needed t %e ta'en)
Ga!aln rde alngside hi& t %egin with+ t &a'e sure that
he was #a$a%le * identi*(ing and ta'ing the #rre#t $ath+ %ut
a*ter ten &inutes r s the sr#erer dr$$ed %a#'+ #ntent t
*llw where he led)
On#e his &unt had settled t a stead( $a#e the ride %e#a&e
s&ther+ and 7athan *und that i* he 'e$t his e(es *i-ed n
the hri1n ahead * hi& rather than glan#ing sidewa(s at the
%ushes and #a#ti that were whi11ing he#ti#all( $ast he did nt
*eel 2uite s si#') It was+ in an( #ase+ s lng sin#e he had eaten
a su%stantial &eal that he #uld nt %elie!e that his st&a#h
#ntained an(thing t thrw u$)
When 7athan had %een n *t+ e!en with his &ind unusu,
all( dulled+ the distan#e %etween the islated *ar&huse and
Ga!aln/s #a&$ had see&ed !er( lng+ %ut the hrned hrses
#!ered the grund at su#h a re&ar'a%le $a#e that the &iles
see&ed t &elt awa() 7athan had nl( .ust %egun t get used
t his unli'el( situatin astride the %i1arre ani&al when he saw
the #hi&ne( * the *ar&huse , s&'eless nw , l& int
sight)
Fr a &&ent r tw+ 7athan thught he &ight s&ehw
ha!e gt the wrng *ar&huse) The en!irn&ent l'ed wrng
, %ut the r* * the huse was *a&iliar+ and 7athan realised
that the dis#re$an#( was in the surrunding !egetatin) New
$lants were s$ringing u$ in the shadw * the walls4 nati!e
$lants+ nt #ulti!ated nes) S&e were thrn( %ushes and a *ew
were *ungal &asses+ %ut the &a.rit( see&ed t %e #ree$ers
intent n #li&%ing the walls * the huse and all the ther
walls and *en#es &ar'ing ut the territries and $ssessins *
the *ar&er/s tin( d&ain)
7athan 'new that s&e *r&s * l#al !egetatin #uld grw
!er( 2ui#'l( indeed+ %ut Pater Saltana had tld hi& that was
%e#ause the( #uld draw energ( dire#tl( *r& the s'() It was
s&ething t d with the *r#e that &ade the stars a$$ear t
#hange #lur and &!e) Gi!en that the &!e&ents * the
stars were slwer nw than the( had e!er %een %e*re in
7athan/s li*eti&e , r+ he sus$e#ted+ in Pater Saltana/s , this
did nt see& a li'el( seasn *r the en#urage&ent * $lant,
grwth+ %ut all the nr&al rules * e-$e#tatin had %een set
aside within the last twent(,*ur hurs)
It was &re li'el(+ thugh+ n#e 7athan thught a%ut it+
that the grwth had s&ething t d with Ni&ian/s arri!al at
the huse)
When 7athan dis&unted and tethered his steed t ne *
the gate$sts * what had n#e %een the 'it#hen garden he
realised that the ride had nt %een 2uite as shrt r as s&th
as he had thught) His legs see&ed t ha!e %een %ent ut *
sha$e+ and wal'ing had %e#&e $ain*ul)
This did nt st$ hi& running int the #ttage t *ind
H(#illa)
H(#illa was eas( enugh t *ind) She was+ hwe!er+ 2uite
alne)
This #ir#u&stan#e did nt $lease Ga!aln the Great at all)
/Gne6/ he re$eated+ i&$atientl(+ when H(#illa %egan t **er a
tentati!e e-$lanatin) /Cne where6/
/Perha$s he wasn/t e-$e#ting (u 2uite s sn+/ H(#illa said+
an-iusl() /He said that he was hungr(+ althugh hw that
#uld %e $ssi%le a*ter what he did t thse %irds))) He/s a lt
%igger nw) I* he/d sta(ed here &u#h lnger he $r%a%l(
wuldn/t ha!e %een a%le t get ut * the dr) He had t get
rid * the I&$erial uni*r& he was wearing , the rags are !er
there , %ut his s'in desn/t l' li'e hu&an s'in an( &re)
He/s &re li'e s&e 'ind * enr&us re$tile than a &an+
althugh he tal's &u#h &re *luentl()/
7athan nti#ed while H(#illa was sta&&ering ut her
e-#uses that she t l'ed taller than %e*re+ e!en thugh she
#ertainl( hadn/t %een dining n &was and &egas#ara%s)
Ni&ian/s unnatural grwth see&ed t ha!e a #ertain #&&u,
ni#a%le genersit( a%ut it+ whi#h e-tended t $e$le as well
as t nati!e $lants)
This is %ad+/ Ga!aln said+ *ret*ull() /He shuld ne!er ha!e
run awa( *r& &e in the *irst $la#e+ e!en i* he had sensed
ene&ies #lse%() He shuldn/t ha!e gt a%ard the tru#'+ and
he shuldn/t ha!e sent the %( t *et#h &e instead * #&ing
Pawns * Chas ;EF
hi&sel*) Hw will he 'nw what I need * hi& i* ; #an/t tell
hi&6 Ful%ra is #&ing t 2ui#'l(+ in gd rder) I* we ha!e t
*all %a#' we/ll e-$se t &an( twns and t &an( rads) I*
the I&$erial *r#es #an ##u$( a strng $sitin+ and gather in
su$$lies+ we/ll ne!er win'le the& ut) Hw did the =essel see&
&entall(6 Has his true #ns#iusness %egun t &ani*est itsel*
within the wie#'age * Ni&ian/s sulF/
/I dn/t 'nw what (u &ean+/ H(#illa said+ *aintl( , %ut
7athan 'new that she was nl( %eing #autius) She had alread(
said that Ni&ian had %egun tal'ing &re *luentl()
@What had he t sa( *r hi&sel*6/ Ga!aln de&anded+ i&$a,
tientl(
/Nt &u#h+/ H(#illa said+ wrriedl() /He tld &e t wait) He
didn/t a#tuall( sa( that he/d return+ %ut ; thught that/s what he
&eant) A*ter all+ he/d tld 7athan t %ring (u here+ s that)))
He said that he needed t tu#h (u)/
Ga!aln #nsidered this *r a &&ent r tw) /I need t get
t hi& as sn as $ssi%le+/ he &ur&ured) /He #an ha!e an(,
thing he wants n#e he/s %a#' at the #a&$+ %ut)))/ He turned
a%ru$tl( t l' at the de!i#e that was still atta#hed t 7athan/s
*inger+ ha!ing nti#ed that the se!ered *inger was n lnger
hri1ntal) As Ga!aln/s interrgati!e ga1e lingered u$n it+
the 'nt in the hair %( whi#h the *inger was sus$ended sud,
denl( #a&e undne+ and the dire#tin,*inder *ell t the *lr)
It did nt lie there as it shuld ha!e dne3 instead+ it %egan
t wriggle li'e a wr&+ &!ing aw'wardl( twards Ca!aln)
The sr#erer rea#hed dwn+ la(ing ne * his hands *lat n the
grund+ $al& u$wards) The se!ered *inger was grwing lnger
as it &!ed+ and it was lng enugh nw t wind itsel* arund
Ga!aln/s *inger li'e a #&$und ring)
Ga!aln stared at it+ and #ntinued t stare a*ter rising t his
*eet) His stan#e suggested in#&$rehensin+ %ut the e-$ressin
in his a&a1ing inhu&an e(es was 2uite unreada%le)
Well+ 7athan thught+ ; su$$se that he has nw %een
tu#hed) Perha$s the &nster is #lse enugh t wr' his will
withut $utting in an a#tual a$$earan#e) As sn as he had
thught it+ thugh+ he wndered hw he had *r&ed su#h a
strange #n.e#ture) It had %een his thught , he was sure *
that , %ut it see&ed t ha!e sei1ed u$n a *eeling that was nt
his+ r nt entirel( his) He re&e&%ered Ni&ian/s less #&$re,
hensi%le &u&%lings+ and wndered *r the *irst ti&e whether
there had %een *ar &re &eaning that see&ed li'el( in the
re$l( */(u and (u/ that Ni&ian had twi#e &ade t the 2ues,
tin+ /Wh are (u6/
7athan shi!ered+ and de#ided that he reall( ught t thin'
a%ut s&ething else) He l'ed u$)
/A& I &ista'en+/ 7athan as'ed H(#illa+ in a lw !i#e+ /r is
the #eiling a little higher than it was %e*re6/
H(#illa l'ed u$ t+ a$$arentl( nt ha!ing nti#ed an(
#hange in her surrundings until 7athan s$'e) /; %elie!e it is+/
she said+ $ausing %e*re she added4 /%ut I dn/t see& t %e an(
*urther %eneath it than I was %e*re)/
/E!er(thing/s getting %igger+/ 7athan said+ hesitantl() /E!en
the stne in the walls) E!er(thing he/s tu#hed , e-#e$t &e)/
/N wnder he/s hungr(+/ Ga!aln said) /But he &ustn/t waste
his $wer+ a##identall( r deli%eratel() I dn/t 'nw hw &u#h
energ( he/ll ha!e at his %e#' and #all when he rea#hes &aturit(+
%ut it wn/t %e in*inite and he wn/t %e lng in his $ri&e) We
ha!e t s&ash the I&$erial *r#es+ s de#isi!el( that the(/ll
ne!er re#!er) I* we dn/t+ this wrld will ne!er %e sa*e *r wr,
shi$$ers * the true gd)/
@What a%ut the shi$s6/ H(#illa as'ed)
Ca!aln/s re&ar'a%le ga1e had %een relati!el( su%dued until
nw+ %ut 7athan saw its *ire *lare u$ slightl( then+ es$e#iall( in
what l'ed t %e the (unger and *resher e(e)
/S$a#eshi$s6/ Ga!aln 2ueried)
H(#illa ndded) /I/!e seen the& in &( drea&s+/ she said+ /%ut
ne!er s #learl( as last night) Ni&ian &entined the& , he
sa(s the(/re #&ing #lser)/
/Are these I&$erial shi$s6/ The 2uestin #a&e *r& ne *
the thrall,wi1ards , 8alda(a'+ 7athan thught)
/Nt ne#essaril(+/ Ca!aln re$lied) The true gd has his
s$a#e*leets t+ as d ther gds t wh& the I&$eriu& is
$$sed) There are ther ra#es whi#h #an na!igate %etween the
stars4 eldar+ t(ranids+ tau))) The na&es &ean little enugh+ %ut
the( ha!e %een re!ealed t &e+ s that I &a( 'nw s&ething
* the war in whi#h I a& a $art) What did the =essel sa( a%ut
the shi$s6/
/Firstl( that he wuld %ring the&+/ H(#illa re$rted)
/Se#ndl( that the( were #&ing #lser) He see&ed $leased)/
/Bring the&6/ Ca!aln re$eated+ $ensi!el() /And he see&ed
$leased0/
The war$str& is retreating+/ said the thrall,wi1ard wh was
$r%a%l( A%dal'uri) /I* shi$s ser!ing the Changer * the Wa(s
#uld #&e t ur aid)))/
We &ight %literate the I&$eriu& n#e and *r all+> his &ul,
ti#lured #&$anin *inished *r hi&)
The I&$eriu& is t !ast t %e %literated+/ Ga!aln #r,
re#ted hi&+ s#rn*ull() The little *rag&ent * it that has %een
lst here *r tw hundred (ears was alwa(s a s&all and si#'l(
thing , %ut (es+ that #uld %e %literated+ n#e and *r all) I*
the war$str& has retreated *ar enugh+ *r#es &ight %e gath,
ering in s$a#e t dis$ute $ssessin * *i!e r *i*t( wrlds4
wrlds *ull * &en+ and sr#er(+ and wh 'nws hw &an(
des#endants * stranded I&$erial in!estigatrs6 This $hase *
the great ga&e &a( %e ta'ing $la#e n a larger stage than I had
i&agined))) %ut that nl( &a'es it all the &re i&$rtant that
Sathrael shuld *llw &( lead+ and a#t under &( dire#tin)/
/8st #ertainl(+/ said A%dal'uri)
/A%slutel(+/ said 8alda(a')
It see&ed t 7athan that %th !i#es rang slightl( hllw)
The thrall,wi1ards were+ he assu&ed+ #&$letel( %und t
Ga!aln/s ends and &eans) The( were his %edient ser!ants+
and nthing &re) But whate!er it was that the s,#alled =essel
nw held was a great deal &re4 *ar &re than the( were+ and
*ar &re than e!en Ga!aln the Great was) 7athan realised that
the tw thrall,wi1ards &ight nt %e entirel( dis$leased were
s&e *rea' * *ate t redu#e Ca!aln t their wn ign&inius
status+ e!en i* their wn were *urther di&inished in the $r#ess)
But we are all &ere ser!ants * the true gd+ 7athan
re&inded hi&sel*+ r was re&inded %( s&ething nt 2uite
hi&sel*) He is the 7i!ine S#he&er+ and he de#ides where ea#h
and e!er( ne * us shuld *it int his s#he&e) We are all
$tential sa#ri*i#es+ it see&s) Again he wished that Pater Saltana
had had ti&e t tell hi& &re a%ut the se#rets * the #ult and
the rituals * his $e$le)
/I su$$se we &ust wait a while+/ Ga!aln #n#luded+ relu#,
tantl() /Ha!e (u+ $er#han#e+ an( *d *it *r hu&an %eings t
eat6/
/We ha!e what we t' *r& the I&$erial tru#'s+/ H(#illa
ad&itted) Her relu#tan#e+ 7athan 'new+ was due t the *a#t that
she 'new !er( well hw di**i#ult it &ight %e t #&e %( *urther
*d su$$lies in the ne-t *ew da(s)
/Gd+> said Ca!aln) /We/ll eat+ and h$e that the =essel/s
hunger will %e as easil( satis*ied as urs)/
7athan and H(#illa had n alternati!e %ut t $la#e their
$a#'s at Ga!aln/s dis$sal+ and t wat#h the sr#erer and his
thrall,wi1ards &a'e shrt wr' * the greater $art * their
hard)
A*ter settling his wn hunger $angs 7athan wal'ed sti**l( ut
int the walled en#la!e in *rnt * the huse+ intending t
water the hrses and stret#h his legs in a &re *a&iliar *ashin
than that in whi#h the( had re#entl( %een stret#hed)
H(#illa *llwed hi& ut and std %( while he tended t
the hrses) She l'ed arund+ stud(ing the nati!e !egeta,
tin that was s$ringing u$ all arund the huse) It was a
re&ar'a%le sight) The &st a!id #ree$ers were alread( hal*,
wa( u$ the walls * the huse+ and s$i'( grwths t either
side * the lw garden wall had alread( &ade it int a *ar
&re i&$ressi!e %arrier than it had %een %e*re) The r*+
whi#h see&ed stee$er nw than it n#e had+ was #!ered in
&ss( $arasites)
What will %e#&e * us+ d (u thin'6/ 7athan as'ed+ when
he was a%le t .in her)
/I dn/t 'nw+/ she said) /8( head tells &e that the #lser we
are t Ni&ian+ the sa*er we/re li'el( t %e when the *ighting
a#tuall( starts+ %ut &( legs wuld rather %e nwhere near the
*ighting , r Ni&ian)/
The( ha!e need * (u %e#ause (u/re a drea&er+/ 7athan
$inted ut) /But what use a& I nw+ e!en as an errand,%(6 I
dn/t e!en ha!e the &agi# *inger an( &re)/
/It &a'es n di**eren#e+/ she tld hi&) /Ga!aln has us nw+
and he/ll use us %th as he #an) I* he gi!es us u$+ then Ni&ian
, Sathrael , will use us instead) Ga!aln see&s t thin' that
the #reature/s here t d his %idding+ %ut I dn/t thin' it/s here
t d an(ne/s %idding) I thin' it has a $ur$se * its wn ,
and that (u and I ha!e %een #aught u$ in that $ur$se+ %(
a##ident r %( design)/
/I* e!en Ga!aln the Great is here t %e used at Ni&ian/s
whi&+/ 7athan &uttered+ a&a1ed at his a%ilit( t dis#uss su#h
&atters at all+ let alne s #al&l(+ /(u and I #uld %e in real
tru%le)/
/We alread( are+/ she re&inded hi&) /But we wuldn/t %e here
at all i* Ni&ian hadn/t turned u$ in ti&e t st$ the I&$erial
sldiers ding what the( wanted t us) We ha!e t thin' *
e!er( &inute that $asses as $ure gd *rtune+ n &atter what
the *uture &ight %ring) I* we die tnight+ we/re still a da( ahead
* the ga&e+ aren/t we6/
Whi#h is what (u &eant when (u tld Ni&ian that
@when@ &attered as &u#h as @hw@+/ 7athan &ur&ured) /And
(u/re right+ * #urse) But it/s nt ging t %e eas(+ is it6/
/I dn/t 'nw+/ H(#illa said+ with a tin( shrug * her shul,
ders+ in a !i#e that was n lnger her wn) /8a(%e it will %e
easier than we i&agine+ i* we #an nl( lea& t l' at it the
right wa() When (u #&e right dwn t it+ i* (u ha!e t %urn
(u &ight as well tr( t %urn %rightl()/ She was nti#ea%l( taller
nw than she had %een when she *llwed hi& ut * the
*ar&huse+ and her e(es were aglw again)
H(#illa was still %eauti*ul+ %ut 7athan wasn/t sure that her
%eaut( wuld last) Ha!ing seen what the e-er#ise * &agi# had
dne t 8alda(a' and A%dal'uri+ let alne t Ga!aln the
Great+ he sus$e#ted that she &ight nt age as elegantl( as
w&en wh did nt drea& wisel()
/I/& a*raid+/ 7athan #n*essed) /I* I thught that gaud( hrse
wuld #nsent t #arr( &e+ I/d %e te&$ted t ride awa( int the
sunset as *ast as I #uld g , %ut it/s Ga!aln/s+ and while I ha!e
it+ I su$$se I/& Ga!aln/s t)/
The sun was indeed setting again+ althugh the da( see&ed
t 7athan t ha!e *lwn %(+ and its dis# wuld sn %e gne)
H(#illa l'ed arund+ $resu&a%l( h$ing t #at#h a gli&$se
* the giant that Ni&ian &ust nw ha!e %e#&e+ %ut there was
nthing t %e seen &!ing u$n the wrld/s sur*a#e)
7athan l'ed u$ int the s'(+ at the *irst * the &ns t
rise and the *ew *ugiti!e stars that had %egun t twin'le in the
east) He tried t esti&ate the strength * the *r#e that stirred
the stars , the *r#e the Ga!aln had #alled the /war$str&/ ,
%ut his &erel( hu&an e(es weren/t u$ t the tas')
/Whate!er 'inds * shi$s &ight des#end *r& the s'(+ it
wuldn/t %e gd news *r us+ wuld it6/ he said) /Whate!er alle,
gian#e the( wn+ the(/ll nl( #&e t rain dwn destru#tin)/
/Perha$s+/ she said) /But the I&$eriu& nl( has *ire$wer) We
ha!e s&ething %etter)/
/Is it %etter6/ 7athan as'ed+ wndering wh( he was the nl(
ne wh didn/t see& t %e grwing in res$nse t the #risis)
/Or is it wrse6/
/O* #urse it/s %etter+> H(#illa assured hi&) @We/re the !i#,
ti&s here) We deser!e hel$+ and we shuld %e grate*ul *r an(
we get+ n &atter hw s#ar( it &a( see&)/
/I su$$se we ha!e t g n h$ing that it/ll all turn ut
right in the end+/ 7athan agreed+ /n &atter hw ugl( it gets)
I su$$se Ni&ian/s still getting uglier as well as %igger6/
/9u shuld ha!e seen hi& dis&e&%ering thse %irds+/
H(#illa tld hi&+ with a slight shudder that see&ed t ha!e
&re delight in it than *ear) /He/s eaten *i!e r ten ti&es his
wn weight sin#e we &et hi&) I/!e nt seen &u#h * what
I&$erial *ire$wer #an d+ %ut I/& %eginning t %e a%le t
i&agine what he &ight d+ when he/s *ull( grwn)/
H(#illa/s e(es were glwing e!en &re %rightl( nw that the
sun was dwn+ and 7athan *elt that she was alread( sli$$ing
awa( *r& hi& int the e-ti# #ns#iusness that he wuld
ne!er %e a%le t #&$rehend+ let alne t share) There was an
ra#ular 2ualit( t her $rnun#e&ents nw3 she had %een
grwing inwardl( as well as utwardl( sin#e the &&ent that
Ni&ian had #rashed int their li!es)
/Will we #&e thrugh it in ne $ie#e6/ 7athan as'ed+ h$,
ing that he &ight %e s$ea'ing t s&ething %etter $la#ed t
gi!e an a##urate answer than a &ere !illage girl)
/It desn/t &atter+/ she tld hi&) /All this is $r*it+ %e(nd
ur due) We &ust &a'e the &st * e!er( $re#ius se#nd+
and %egrudge nthing)/
It was+ 7athan su$$sed+ eas( enugh *r her t sa(+ gi!en
that she was n lnger the $ersn he had 'nwn all his li*e)
Fr his wn $art+ he still nursed a hunger *r li*e that was
!er( *ar *r& satis*ied)
<
SIATEEN
/I SI8PL9 COUL7N/T get t hi&+ e-#ellen#(+/ 5er*r re$rted+
uneasil() /Sin#e the assassinatin atte&$t+ Bal%erith/s guards
ha!e %een e!en &re !igilant than usual+ and the *a#t that e!er(
in2uisitr in Sstenut is #n!in#ed that #nta#t with the
I&$eriu& Fleet is i&&inent has #aused a !erita%le e-$lsin
* $iet()/
The s$( was sweating a little and s2uir&ing uneasil( , as well
he &ight+ gi!en that Orl# 8el#arth had dedded t #ndu#t
the inter!iew in the !aults * Sstenut/s &ain $risn)
Their i&&ediate surrundings were nt undul( threaten,
ing+ and &ight e!en ha!e %een des#ri%ed as *esti!e+ %ut the
r& was a guardr& &st * the ti&e and it was nl( a
*ew d1en $a#es awa( *r& a##&&datins that were in*i,
nitel( &re un$leasant+ and *r& whi#h *ew tenants e!er
&!ed n)
There was alwa(s a $art( in the $risn n the e!e * &ass e-e,
#utins+ when 8el#arth distri%uted $ett( *a!urs t the
&e&%ers * his inner #ir#le and ser!ants wh had ser!ed hi&
well+ %ut 8el#arth rarel( tri*led with the #nde&ned+ n &at,
ter hw $rett( the( &ight %e) He $re*erred t use su#h
##asins as $$rtunities t d %usiness) He was+ in an( #ase+
*ir&l( * the $inin that attra#ti!e a%rigine w&en wed
whate!er gla&ur the( had t the taint * Chas+ and that the(
re&ained direl( dangerus t gd and hnest &en+ e!en ,
$erha$s es$e#iall( , when the( were due t %e hanged r
%urned in the &rning)
/An e-$lsin * $iet(6/ 8e'arth e#hed+ wr(l() /S&ehw+ I
#an/t 2uite i&agine an e-$lsin * $iet()/
/Then (u dn/t 'nw the 'ind * $wer that Chie*
In2uisitr Bal%erith wields !er his wn $e$le+ e-#ellen#(+/
5er*r said) /9u and I &ight %e $re$ared t %elie!e that
the wa'ing drea&s * a drug,sdden $s('er are &eaningless+
and nt at all an-ius t see #nta#t with the greater
I&$eriu& restred+ %ut the instru&ents * the In2uisitin
thin' di**erentl() The( reall( are des$erate t %e wel#&ed
%a#' in t the I&$erial *ld+ restred t the %s& * the
%el!ed E&$err) The $ssi%ilit( has &ade ea#h and e!er(
ne * the& #nsult his #ns#ien#e+ and t resl!e t &a'e
u$ *r the slightest la$se r rela-atin * *aith with a new
*ld * de!tin) The(/re entirel( sin#ere+ sire+ and it/s the
'ind * sin#erit( that desn/t #&$r&ise) It/s nt #ndu#i!e
t))) di$l&a#()/
5er*r did nt+ * #urse+ #nsider hi&sel* t %e a &ere s$(+
let alne a hired assassin) He li'ed t thin' * hi&sel* as a
di$l&at)
That/s in#n!enient+/ 8e'arth ad&itted+ #hewing his lwer
li$ re*le#ti!el() /And I su$$se we ha!e t *a#e the $ssi%ilit(
that the $s('er reall( is n the %rin' * &a'ing #nta#t with an
I&$erial starshi$) It/s a #ntingen#( we ha!e t $re$are *r+ .ust
in #ase) I* there were t %e anther landing))) Well+ i* Bal%erith
a$$ears t %e a gd and e**i#ient #hie* in2uisitr+ then I &ust
a$$ear t %e a gd and e**i#ient $lanetar( g!ernr) It shuld,
n/t %e t &u#h * a $r%le&+ gi!en that I/!e .ust laun#hed a
hl( war against the hereti#s *Gul1a#andra) A su##ess*ul hl(
war+ whi#h General Ful%ra is winning , all $raise t the
E&$err 8agni*i#ent0/
5er*r was still sweating+ and s2uir&ing e!en &re) There
was %!iusl( s&ething else n his &ind+ as well as his %!i,
us in#&$eten#e in the &atter * arranging assassinatins)
What is it6/ 8e'arth de&anded)
/Well+ sire+/ the s$( stuttered+ /it/s .ust that &( $e$le))) (ur
hu&%lest hirelings))) d ha!e their *ingers n the $ulse *
$$ular ru&ur))) and e!en thugh the( d e!er(thing
hu&anl( $ssi%le t &n$lise the starting * ru&urs+
the( #an/t hel$ the *a#t that ther ru&urs d get a%ut+
and)))/
/Oh+ s$it it ut0/ 8el#arth grwled+ i&$atientl()
/Well+ e-#ellen#(+ there/s a ru&ur ging rund that))) hw
shall I $ut it6))) That (u/!e nt %een as enthusiasti# in (ur su$,
$rt * General Ful%ra as (u &ight ha!e %een) The little $e$le+
in their ignran#e and *lishness+ see& t thin' that Bal%erith
has %een &re ardent in that #ause than (u) There/s a whis$er
n the streets a%ut (ur re*usal t $r!ide the general with the
air#ra*t he/s re2uested+ in s$ite * the *a#t that it/s read( t ta'e
** at a &&ent/s nti#e , a whis$er whi#h &( &en ha!e natu,
rall( tried t 2uell+ withut su##ess) Whi#h wuldn/t %e s %ad+
e-#e$t that news is s&ehw getting a%ut that ne * the gen,
eral/s $eratins has gne awr( and that a whle $latn/s %een
lst))) and the tw stries ha!e %e#&e #nne#ted in the $u%li#
&ind+ in the aw'ward &anner that su#h things *ten d+ in a
wa( that si&$l( #an/t %e hel$ed))) r hindered)/
8el#arth #nsidered this intelligen#e #are*ull() It wuld all
ha!e %een irrele!ant+ * #urse+ i* 5er*r had dne his .%
$r$erl() I* the $s('er had %een dis$sed *+ r i* Bal%erith had
%een wunded %( the assassin+ there wuld %e n s$a#e n the
street *r an( ther t$i#s * #n!ersatin) The #&&n $e,
$le weren/t su$$sed t 'nw an(thing a%ut the air#ra*t/s
state * readiness+ and the( #ertainl( weren/t su$$sed t 'nw
a%ut the *ailure * O$eratin Pr%e+ %ut i* s&ene wh did
'nw su#h things had a &ti!e *r letting the news ut+ there
was n wa( t 'ee$ it in) It a$$eared that s&ene did) Ragan
Bal%erith+ it see&ed+ was alread( &a'ing $re$aratins *r the
se#nd landing * I&$erial *r#es n Sig&atus+ and ne set *
$re$aratins he was &a'ing in!l!ed under&ining the g!er,
nr/s re$utatin and $sitin)
/Perha$s I t' hi& ut n that %al#n( n#e t *ten+/
8el#arth &uttered) /I shuldn/t e!er ha!e let hi& see hw
&u#h I hated and des$ised hi&+ %ut I si&$l( #uldn/t resist the
te&$tatin) But it/s nt a disaster) There/s an %!ius #unter,
&!e+ i* we/re 2ui#' enugh) I alwa(s intended t ta'e the
air#ra*t !er &(sel* as sn as the ti&e was ri$e) All that/s ha$,
$ened is that the ti&e has %e#&e ri$e a little sner than I
e-$e#ted) 9u/d %etter get !er t the air%ase as 2ui#'l( as (u
#an+ and tell Te#h&aster Sauldrn that I want the air#ra*t read(
t ta'e ** at *irst light)/
/9u/re sending the air#ra*t t Gul1a#andra+ sire6/ 5er*r
said+ letting his astnish&ent shw) /9u/re $utting it at
Ful%ra/s dis$sal6/
/N+/ 8el#arth said+ $atientl() /I/& ta'ing the air#ra*t t
Cul1a#andra and 'ee$ing it under &( dis$sal) I/& ging t %e
a war her) With lu#'+ the %attle will %e *ught %e*re we get
there+ %ut e!en withut))) the air#ra*t is an riginal) It/s the
*inest riginal le*t t us+ and it has %een s#ru$ulusl( &ain,
tained) We/ll %e 2uite sa*e)/
/We6/ 5er*r e#hed+ ner!usl()
/Oh+ nt (u+/ 8el#arth said+ a$$alled %( the ther &an/s a$$ar,
ent #wardi#e) /I/ll ta'e =r#h and the #rea& * the $ala#e guard)/
5er*r was still l'ing at hi& in $en astnish&ent) The
silen#e was %r'en %( a lng drawn,ut hwl * agn(+ nl(
slightl( &u**led %( the thi#' stne walls * the $risn)
S&ene was %!iusl( ha!ing *un) 8el#arth s&iled+ %ut his
s&ile was &irthless) Unli'e Ragan Bal%erith+ 5er*r had nt
the slightest *ear * heights+ %ut there was %!iusl( s&ething
a%ut the idea * *l(ing , e!en in a $ri&e e-a&$le * riginal
I&$erial te#hnlg( , that terri*ied hi&) 8el#arth had *lwn in
the air#ra*t *ur ti&es+ ad&ittedl( *r less than an hur ea#h
ti&e+ %ut he had nl( %een a*raid the *irst ti&e+ and then nl(
slightl() He l!ed the idea * *l(ing) What 'ind * ruler wuld
he %e i* he did nt6
/8( grand*ather used t tell &e tales a%ut s'i&&ers+/
5er*r said+ tr(ing t s$ea' lightl(+ /%ut the( were stries he/d
had *r& his wn grand*ather+ a%ut the E&$err/s *inest) 9ur
air#ra*t isn/t a *ighting,&a#hine , it/s .ust a trans$rter) Are (u
sure it/s #a$a%le * a twel!e,hur *light+ e-#ellen#(6 Are (u
sure it/s sa*e t e!en ta'e it int a %attle 1ne6/
/I/ll lea!e all the a#tual shting t Ful%ra/s &en+ * #urse+/
8el#arth tld hi&+ wearil() The $int is that I/& ging t his
aid+ $ersnall() I/& s *ir&l( %ehind hi& that I/& ta'ing $er,
snal res$nsi%ilit( *r *inding ut what ha$$ened t
O$eratin Pr%e) I/& the 'ind * g!ernr that generals #an
de$end n+ a*ter all) I/& the 'ind * g!ernr that deser!es the
l(alt( * all his su%.e#ts)/
What i* (u #an/t *ind ut what ha$$ened t the &issing
tru#'s+ sire6/ the s$( as'ed+ in *ran' $er$le-it()
/Wh #ares what ha$$ened t the &issing tru#'s6/ 8el#arth
said) The $int is that e!er(ne in Sstenut will see &e set
ut t .in General Ful%ra) We/ll #ir#le the #it( twi#e t &a'e
sure that the( d) The &ere sight * the air#ra*t will %e enugh
t send &st * the& int $ar-(s&s * awe) The news that I/&
a%ard it will &a'e an( !ile whis$ers s$read %( Bal%erith/s
agents instantl( redundant) On#e I/& ut * sight and ut *
&ind , and as sn as General Ful%ra has a#tuall( .ined %at,
tle with the Gul1a#andran *r#es , &ere details will #ease t %e
* an( i&$rtan#e) I/ll *l( %a#' with news * ur *irst great !i#,
tr(+ whi#h I/ll deli!er $ersnall( *r& &( %al#n())) and the
triu&$h will ser!e &e .ust as well i* the &ira#le ha$$ens and
the I&$erial Fleet des &a'e #nta#t as it will i* we/re le*t t
ur wn de!i#es+ res$nsi%le *r the &a'ing * ur wn his,
tr() It/s $er*e#t) Wh( are (u still sitting there6 Wh( aren/t (u
n (ur wa(6/
5er*r lea$t *r& his #hair+ his *a#e suddenl( #learing as he
realised that he was under rders , and+ at least *r the
&&ent+ sa*e *r& his &aster/s wrath) He le*t the r& in a
hurr()
It was a $it( that the s$( wuld ha!e t &iss the #li&a- * the
$art(+ 8el#arth thught+ %ut he hadn/t reall( see&ed t %e in a
$art( &d) Nr shuld he %e in a $art( &d+ while &atters
* su#h i&$rtan#e hung in the %alan#e)
When 5er*r had le*t the $risn+ 8el#arth instru#ted ne *
the senir guards t *ind his dri!er+ $ut an i&&ediate st$ t
whate!er *un he was $resentl( en.(ing+ and tell hi& t %ring
the #ar t the rear entran#e * the $risn) I* the guard was sur,
$rised+ he ga!e n indi#atin * the *a#t)
As he &ade read( t de$art the g!ernr *und that he was
getting &re and &re e-#ited)
I/!e %een s#he&ing t lng and delegating t &u#h+ he
thught) I/!e *rgtten hw e-hilarating it is t %e a &an *
a#tin) I alwa(s used t %e a &an * a#tin+ %e*re I %e#a&e
tangled u$ in t &u#h $liti#s) I shuld ha!e %uilt this e-$e,
ditin int the $lan *r& the start) It/s e-a#tl( what I need)
As he hurried thrugh the #rridrs * the $risn he heard a
new #hrus * s#rea&ing raised *r& a d1en agnised thrats)
It was &usi# t his ears) He *elt a war& glw * satis*a#tin at
the thught * the entertain&ent that his &st l(al su$$rt,
ers wuld %tain while the lng night lasted+ and * the *urther
in#rease in l(alt( that the reward wuld undu%tedl( $r,
du#e) He was glad+ thugh+ that he had &re urgent %usiness
t attend t) The des$iling * the #nde&ned+ n &atter hw
i&aginati!el( it &ight %e #arried ut+ was t eas( t ran' as an
authenti#all( $i2uant $leasure+ es$e#iall( *r a &an * a#tin)
He instru#ted his dri!er t return t the i&$erial $ala#e+ in
rder that he &ight $a#' a %ag+ sele#t a retinue * %d(guards
and rganise a &tr,#(#le es#rt *r the &tr#ade+ %ut he did
nt linger lng !er the tas') His #ar was #areering thrugh the
dar'ness again within the hur+ with a se#nd !ehi#le in the
rear and si- &tr,#(#lists in attendan#e) He sat in the %a#'+
with his #hie* %d(guard+ Thrld+ %eside hi&)
The .urne( thrugh the #it( streets was nt as s&th as it
&ight ha!e %een) The I&$erial *r#es stranded in 5ala1endra
had i&$r!ed Sstenut/s rads dra&ati#all( during the *irst
(ears * their tenure+ %ut regular &aintenan#e had %een le*t t
the a%rigines when the I&$eriu&/s engineers &!ed n t the
%usiness * #n2uest) The #entral streets were in gd re$air+
%ut thse in utl(ing distri#ts had %een deterirating *r as
lng as 8el#arth #uld re&e&%er)
It was the sa&e with the %uildings+ 8el#arth thught+ as he
wat#hed the sh$,*rnts and the *a#tries g %() Nthing new
had %een ere#ted in this neigh%urhd *r &re than a #en,
tur(+ %e#ause e!er(ne 'new that new %uildings were *ar
in*erir , in design as well as 2ualit( , t thse that the relu#,
tant #lnists had &ade) Althugh *a#tries had %een
esta%lished t turn ut #$ies * the !ehi#les the I&$erial
*r#es had %rught with the& the #$ies had alwa(s %een $r+
and the #$ies * the #$ies e!en $rer)
Bal%erith/s $e$le %elie!ed , r $retended t %elie!e , that
the stead( deteriratin was &stl( due t the *a#t that the te#h,
$riests * tw hundred (ears ag &ust ha!e %een wrd,$er*e#t
in all the $ra(ers and rituals whi#h tda(/s te#h,$riests had
ne!er 2uite #ntri!ed t &aster+ %ut 8el#arth was s#e$ti#al) He
was &re in#lined t %la&e the 2ualit( * their raw &aterials
than the li&itatin * their $ra#ti#al s'ills) Nt that it &attered
&u#h either wa(3 whate!er the reasn+ the si&$le *a#t was that
the des#endants * the riginal #astawa(s had %een una%le t
$re!ent the lng+ slw de#line * their &aterial wealth)
Nwada(s+ the &argin that se$arated the li*est(le * the
&a.rit( * s,#alled I&$erials *r& that * the ri#her
a%rigine #it(,dwellers was !er( thin indeed) The I&$eriu&
still 'e$t its &n$l( n !ehi#ular trans$rt+ %ut there were
s *ew !ehi#les n the rads * Sstenut that it was *ast
%e#&ing a distin#tin withut a di**eren#e *r e!er(ne %ut
the g!ernr/s $ersnal sta** and the ar&()
8el#arth stared ut * his windw at the streets thrugh
whi#h he $assed+ tr(ing as hard as he #uld t ta'e $ride in his
#a$ital #it(+ %ut it wasn/t as eas( as he wuld ha!e wished) Nw
that the #ar had $assed ut * the heart * the #it(+ where the
I&$erial #astawa(s had %uilt a##rding t their innate sense *
grandeur+ his rute was *lan'ed %( huses that the a%rigines
had %uilt *r the&sel!es+ using stne+ #e&ent and wd in
see&ingl( ha$ha1ard #&%inatins) The streets were lit+ i* the(
were lit at all+ %( s&'( il,la&$s+ and the $e$le &!ing
thrugh the& , in a #it( li'e Sstenut the streets were alwa(s
*ull * $e$le+ e!en at night , were &stl( ugl(+ drun'+ &iser,
a%le and ill,dressed)
B( da( the a%rigines &ade &re * an e**rt t a$e the
i&$rted &anners * the I&$eriu&+ $retending as hard as the(
#uld t %e !irtuus+ well,dis#i$lined and *ull( de!ted t the
great #auses * rder and #i!ili1atin+ %ut %( night the( rela-ed
int their age,ld ha%its * slth*ulness) The( shuld ha!e
%een *ar &re grate*ul *r the e**rt that the I&$eriu& had
in!ested in sa!ing s &an( * the& *r& the !ile #lut#hes *
the #!en,&asters that had %een their erstwhile rulers+ %ut
8el#arth sus$e#ted that &an( * the& were se#retl( nstalgi#
*r the lng,gne da(s %e*re the ad!ent * the I&$eriu&+ ha!,
ing #&$letel( *rgtten hw %rutal+ dangerus and
degenerate the li*e * their an#estrs had %een)
There were+ s *ar as 8el#arth 'new+ n #ults r #!ens
still a#ti!e in Sstenut+ %ut ne ite& * #n!i#tin n
whi#h he and Bal%erith were in #&$lete agree&ent was the
'nwledge that the #rru$tins * Chas were as su%tle as
the( were insidius) The $e$le wh turned their heads+
with as &u#h hstilit( as #urisit( in their $redatr( e(es+
t wat#h his #ar $ass %( were the !i#ti&s * a !er( %ad inher,
itan#e) N &atter hw hard the( tried+ the( #uld ne!er %e
entirel( #n!in#ing as &dels * re#titude and $iet() N
&atter hw *ten the $$ulatin was $urged %( the
In2uisitin+ it ne!er see&ed t %e#&e entirel( $ure+ and
$r%a%l( ne!er wuld)
When Cul1a#andra had %een $urged+ the &st $rli*i# well,
s$ring * the wrld/s &alaise wuld run dr(+ %ut 8el#arth 'new
that n &atter hw stri#tl( the $urge was #arried ut+ it wuld
nt and #uld nt $ut an end t the eternal war) There wuld
alwa(s %e a need *r rgani1atins li'e the In2uisit/,/)n and
&en li'e Ragan Bal%erith t run the& , under the <i#$er
su$er!isin * &re sensi%le &en+ * #urse) E!er(da( li*e had
t %e &aintained t+ and the %usiness * g!ern&ent was *ar
t %rad and #&$li#ated t %e le*t t %sessi!e 1ealts)
8el#arth started suddenl( as a stne hurled *r& a shadwed
side,street hit the windw ut * whi#h he was $eering) The
%d(guard sitting %eside hi& als rea#ted+ %ut sn settled
%a#' int his seat as a &e&%er * the &tr,#(#le es#rt rared
** int the side,street t &a'e #ertain that there was n real
threat)
The &tr,#(#list rea$$eared a &&ent later) 8el#arth
wat#hed thrugh the rear winds#reen as the &an signalled t
his #&$anins that all was well)
N signi*i#ant in.ur( had %een dne t the #ar+ %ut the enr,
&it( * the insult *ilied 8el#arth with a sudden rage) The
&issile had $r%a%l( %een thrwn %( an unrul( #hild+ with n
&re &ti!e than $ure &is#hie*+ %ut it see&ed ne!ertheless t
%e s(&$t&ati# * a disres$e#t &re terri%le than an( ingrati,
tude) Had these wret#hed a%rigines n idea hw &u#h the(
wed t the I&$eriu&6 Had the( n understanding * the
enr&us enri#h&ent the I&$erial #astawa(s had %rught t
their sha%%( #ulture+ in additin t the enlighten&ent that
turned the tide against the aw*ul #rru$tins * Chas6 Hw
#uld the( nt re#gnise su#h an %!ius su$eririt( * &an,
ners and &res6 Were the( reall( stu$id enugh t han'er a*ter
the reign * #!en,&asters wh nt nl( **ered dail( tri%utes
* their %ld t the !ilest * gds %ut wel#&ed their wn
slw trans*r&atin int &ad and &nstrus &utants6
/Perha$s Bal%erith is hal*,right+/ the g!ernr &ur&ured+ in a
highl( e-#e$tinal &&ent * genersit(+ as he #ntinued t
stare ut * the rear windw) The nl( thing wrth *ighting *r
is the I&$erial ideal+ and that wuld %e a great deal easier t
u$hld i* we were nt #ut ** *r& ur star*aring %rthers) I*
nl( the &an #uld understand that the !er( %est e&%di&ent
* that ideal in ur wn wrld is &e+ we &ight %e *riends
instead * ad!ersaries0/
/E-#ellen#(6/ said the nr&all( ta#iturn Thrld+ .ust in #ase
the re&ar' had %een addressed t hi&)
/Is that a third #ar+ Thrld6/ 8el#arth as'ed+ ha!ing sud,
denl( #aught sight * the gli&&er * headla&$s %ehind the
&tr,#(#list wh had te&$raril( deta#hed hi&sel* *r& the
$rte#ti!e *r&atin) /I thught =r#h #ntri!ed t #ra& the
ther guards&en int his)/
The %d(guard turned t $eer int the gl&) /9es+ e-#el,
len#(+/ he said) T %elie!e it is) Shall I ha!e it st$$ed6/
/Nt (et , let/s *ind ut wh it is *irst) Tell (ur #lleague in
the *rnt t use his !-,#aster t *ind ut whse it is)/
This rder was rela(ed thrugh the glass s#reen that se$a,
rated the rear se#tin * the g!ernr/s #ar *r& the *rnt seats)
A*ter a *ew &&ents+ the answer #a&e %a#')
/It/s the Chie* In2uisitr/s #ar+ e-#ellen#(+/ Thrld re$rted)
/What6/ 8el#arth was du&%*unded) /Where is he ging6/
Anther &inute went %(+ see&ing &u#h slwer than its $re,
de#essr+ %e*re the se#nd answer #a&e %a#' , this ti&e
dire#tl( *r& the dri!er/s #&$anin) /He sa(s that he/s #&ing
t hel$ (u+ e-#ellen#(+/ the guards&an re$rted) /As sn as he
heard news * (ur heri# endea!ur+ he thught it ne#essar(
t $ledge his *ull su$$rt+ and t share the danger)/
8el#arth %e#a&e un#&*rta%l( aware that his .aw was
hanging $en) He shut his &uth with an a%ru$t #li#'+ gritting
his teeth while he #nsidered the situatin)
He wndered %rie*l( whether 5er*r &ight ha!e %een
turned+ %ut 2ui#'l( de#ided that it &ust ha!e %een the !igi,
lan#e * Bal%erith/s wn se#ret agents that had alerted the Chie*
In2uisitr t 8el#arth/s hastil(,i&$r!ised $lan) Bal%erith
&ust ha!e rea#ted instantl(+ .ust as i&$etuusl( as 8el#arth
hi&sel*) Ha!ing understd the ga&e that 8el#arth was $la(,
ing+ and the de#isi!eness * this latest &!e+ Bal%erith had
res$nded re*le-i!el( , and !er( re#'lessl()
He/s $la(ed right int &( hands0 8el#arth thught) What a
str'e * genius it was t hasten &( de$arture0
8el#arth #uld see nthing %ut ad!antage in allwing
Bal%erith t /share the danger/ * the aerial e-$editin , $r,
!ided+ * #urse+ that his wn retinue utnu&%ered Bal%erith/s
%( at least tw t ne) I* it were t trans$ire+ a*ter his ti&el(
return t 5ala1endra+ that the e-$editin had su**ered #asual,
ties while in Gul1a#andra+ wuld that nt ser!e t de&nstrate
his %ra!er( in ging+ and the true e-tent * his triu&$h in
returning sa*el(6 And what a &agni*i#ent *uneral he #uld stage
*r the heri# Chie* In2uisitr+ whse li*e had %een s tragi,
#all( lst)))
/Hw &u#h e-tra s$a#e will there %e a%ard the air#ra*t+ n#e
ur wn &en are a##&&dated6/ 8el#arth de&anded *
Thrld)
/As &u#h r as little as (u desire+ e-#ellen#(+/ was the swi*t
re$l(+ as the %d(guard i&&ediatel( realised what his &aster
was thin'ing) @We #an de$end n Te#h&aster Sauldrn t set as
narrw a li&it as (u &ight #are t suggest)/
/Gd , send hi& instru#tins t &a'e sure that ur $e$le
utnu&%er Bal%erith/s %( three t ne) Tell hi& t %e as a$l,
geti# as he needs t %e+ %ut t &a'e sure that there are
a%undant gd reasns wh( there si&$l( aren/t enugh s$are
$la#es t a##&&date &re than a #u$le * his $et thugs)
8a'e sure it/s all srted ut %e*re we arri!e)/
/9es+ e-#ellen#(+/ Thrld re$lied , and i&&ediatel( leant
*rward t ta'e the !-,#aster/s s$ea'ing hrn *r& his #l,
league)
Ha!ing gras$ed this une-$e#ted $$rtunit(+ 8el#arth set,
tled %a#' int his seat t &a'e *urther $lans) He was a&a1ed
that Bal%erith was e!en $re$ared t #nte&$late .ining hi&
n the *light+ gi!en the Chie* In2uisitr/s a!ersin t heights+
%ut nw that the $ssi%ilit( had %een raised+ his &ain *ear was
that Bal%erith wuld su**er a last,&inute atta#' * #wardi#e
and $ull ut) That+ he thught+ wuld %e a real anti,#li&a-) It
wuld %e wise t dela( an( hstile a#tin until the air#ra*t had
a#tuall( landed in Gul1a#andra) It wuld %e entertaining t+ i*
Bal%erith did turn ut t %e as dee$l( dis#&*ited %( *l(ing as
%( standing n a high %al#n( , %ut n#e the( were n alien
sil))) n hstile sil))) it shuld %e eas( enugh t e-tra#t the
thrn *r& his side $er&anentl(+ and &a'e u$ a str( that
wuld wr' t his ad!antage)))
/It see&s+ e-#ellen#(+ that there wn/t %e a $r%le&+> Thrld
re$rted) /A$$arentl(+ the Chie* In2uisitr le*t his a$art&ents
in a hurr() He/s alread( tld Te#h&aster Sauldrn that he has
nl( three &en with hi& , and nl( ne * the& is ar&ed) We
ha!e eight &en *ull(,ar&ed+ $lus the $ilt and the air#ra*t/s !-
$eratr+ %th * wh& are #&$letel( trustwrth() But wh( is
he ding it+ e-#ellen#(6 Surel( he &ust 'nw that it/s sui#ide)/
/8ust he6/ 8e'arth wndered+ alud) /Perha$s nt) Perha$s
he reall( des nt understand hw &atters lie) Or $erha$s he
is &erel( des$erate) In either #ase+ e!er(thing is ging ur wa()
Hw the E&$err &ust l!e us+ Thrld , all $raise t his gl,
rius na&e0/
/All $raise t the E&$err+/ Thrld e#hed)
E!en when 8e'arth rea#hed the air%ase and dis#!ered what
he had nt thught t wnder r t as' %e*re+ he was still
e-ultant+ still #n!in#ed that he had the *a!ur * the gds)
A*ter all+ he thught+ the nl( thing that wuld &atter n#e the
air#ra*t was al*t+ was the nu&%er * guns a%ard and the l(,
alt( * their #arriers)
What di**eren#e #uld it $ssi%l( &a'e t his un*lding
s#he&e that Ragan Bal%erith had ele#ted t %ring alng a $riest
and a $s('er as well as a %d(guard6
Was it nt+ a*ter all+ the greatest gi*t that #ir#u&stan#e #uld
**er a *uture ruler * the wrld+ that the $s('er wh had #&e
s #lse t &a'ing #nta#t with the I&$erial Fleet shuld %e
deli!ered int Orl# 8el#arth/s hands alng with his tru%le,
s&e &aster+ the Chie* In2uisitr Ragan Bal%erith6
SE=ENTEEN
WHEN H9CILLA WENT %a#' int the *ar&huse 7athan sta(ed
utside) He tld hi&sel* that he was /'ee$ing wat#h/ %ut he
didn/t reall( %elie!e it) He 'new that when Ni&ian , r
Sathrael , returned+ there wuld %e n need t **er Ga!aln
an earl( warning * his a$$ra#h)
He was+ there*re+ ta'en utterl( %( sur$rise when he heard
the nise * the a$$ra#hing tru#'s)
It had ne!er ##urred t 7athan that the sldiers wh had
ta'en the !illage &ight set ut t dis#!er what had %e#&e *
their #&$anins+ r that n#e ha!ing *und the wre#'age %(
the water,hle the( &ight als *ind the tra#'s &ade %( the
tru#' H(#illa had dri!en awa(+ and *llw the& until the(
*und the tru#' that had run ut * *uel , at whi#h $int+ the
I&$erial sldiers wuld naturall( #ntinue alng the rad+
an-ius t 'nw what had %e#&e * the !ehi#le/s dri!er) On#e
he realised that the tru#'s were a#tuall( #&ing+ thugh+
7athan understd i&&ediatel( that all this had %een %!i,
us+ and that he had %een a *l nt t e-$e#t it)
7athan understd+ t+ the aw*ul signi*i#an#e * the *a#t
that Ga!aln the Great was in the *ar&huse+ with nl( tw
thrall,wi1ards and tw unar&ed !illagers *r #&$an() It
wuld %e utterl( disastrus+ he 'new+ i* the de*enders *
Cul1a#andra were t lse their leader %e*re the e-$e#ted %at,
tle had e!en %egun)
Fr this reasn+ he ran %a#' int the huse shuting4 /8unt
u$0 8unt u$0 We ha!e t get awa(0 8re tru#'s are #&ing0/
The res$nse was i&&ediate+ %ut it was nt 2uite what
7athan had e-$e#ted) Instead * running *r the steeds that
had #arried the& *r& the en#a&$&ent+ the sr#erer/s *irst
&!e was t whirl arund t *a#e H(#illa)
Where is the dae&n6/ he de&anded) /Hw near is he6/
7athan/s *irst assu&$tin was that H(#illa had n wa( *
'nwing what the answer was , %ut when he saw the wa( that
she &et Ga!aln/s inti&idating ga1e+ he re&e&%ered that she
had 'nwn *ar &re than she shuld e!en %e*re Ni&ian had
&ade his s$e#ta#ular a$$earan#e in their li!es) E!er sin#e the
%( had tu#hed her+ she had %een grwing , and the $h(si#al
#hange was &erel( s(&$t&ati#) When Ni&ian had tu#hed
her+ he had #lai&ed her3 she was his nw)
He tu#hed &e+ t+ 7athan re&e&%ered , %ut was swi*t t
add4 %ut I a& n wise,drea&er+ and she is) There was alread(
s&ething in her+ waiting t %e #lai&ed)
Ga!aln/s e(es were dar' and %ul%us3 l'ing int the&
was li'e l'ing int a str&( night , %ut H(#illa/s e(es were
larger nw+ and &u#h dar'er) An(ne wh &et her stare wuld
%e *rightened , an(ne+ e-#e$t a &an li'e Ga!aln)
The sr#erer and H(#illa &et ne anther/s e(es !er( steadil()
Ga!aln rea#hed ut as i* t sei1e H(#illa/s ar&s in his re&ar',
a%le *ists , %ut H(#illa was t 2ui#' *r hi&) She rea#hed ut
and $la#ed her wn re#entl(,elngated hands n his *rear&s+
and she stared int his *a#e with the *ull glare * her suddenl(,
su$ernatural e(es) Ga!aln was ta'en a%a#' , %ut he was
%!iusl( satis*ied with what he saw within r %ehind H(#illa/s
e(es+ *r he ndded his shagg( head) Then he ste$$ed %a#'+
releasing hi&sel* *r& her unresisting gri$)
/8alda(a'+ with &e0/ the sr#erer shuted) /A%dal'uri ,
&unt u$0 Ta'e the %( with (u) The %east&en #annt %e *ar
awa() Ride t &eet the& and %ring the& *rward as *ast as (u
#an)/
7athan was &&entaril( #n*used %( these instru#tins+ %ut
as A%dal'uri gra%%ed his ar& and $ulled hi& %a#' twards the
dr he realised that Ga!aln intended t &a'e a stand+ and
that he &ust intend t 'ee$ H(#illa with hi& as well as
8alda(a') He $ened his &uth t $rtest+ %ut the wrds died
in his thrat as he realised hw *utile a $rtest wuld %e) He
did nt want t lea!e H(#illa in a $la#e * danger+ %ut he was
in n $sitin t de&and * her+ let alne * Ga!aln the
Great+ that she shuld #&e with hi&)
B( the ti&e A%dal'uri had dragged 7athan ut t the (ard
where the hrses were tethered+ the leading tru#' had alread(
#&e t the #rest * the ridge+ *r& whi#h the *ar&huse was
#learl( !isi%le) 7athan 'new that he &ust %e !isi%le t , and
that their !i!id range and %lue #luring wuld &a'e the
h&ed hrses stand ut %ldl( e!en against the e-ti#all(
tinted !egetatin * the $lain)
/7n/t %e a*raid+/ the wi1ard hissed+ as he thrust 7athan
twards ne * the hrses) The( ha!e guns+ %ut we ha!e gla&ur)/
7athan had n idea what this reassuran#e was su$$sed t
&ean+ %ut his attentin was *i-ed n the tas' i&&ediatel(
%e*re hi& , whi#h was t get u$ int the saddle) The stirru$
see&ed e!en higher than it had %e*re+ and the $ssi%ilit( *
using it as a ste$ e!en &re re&te) The hrse 'new hi& this
ti&e+ thugh+ and althugh it #uld nt %end a 'nee t &a'e
the ste$ easier it std st#' still+ l'ing %a#' at hi& with
what see&ed t %e a trust*ul e(e)
8ustering all his #urage+ 7athan rea#hed u$ t ta'e hld *
the saddle,hrn+ and li*ted his le*t *t as high as he #uld)
S&ewhat t his sur$rise+ he &anaged t get his %t int the
stirru$) He $ushed ** with his ther *t+ while using the
strength * his ar&s t haul hi&sel* u$)
A&a1ingl(+ it wr'ed) He *und hi&sel* in the saddle)
Althugh he n lnger had Ni&ian/s se!ered *inger t hel$
hi&+ the hrse see&ed $er*e#tl( #ntent t re#gnise 7athan as
its &aster+ r at least as its ward) He had t ad&it that there was
n real e-er#ise * &aster( in the *a#t that the hrse turned and
trtted ut * the (ard+ %rea'ing int a #anter as sn as it was
#lear * the gate) I* an(ne were a#tuall( the &aster+ he 2ui#'l(
realised+ it was the hrse , %ut at least the hrse see&ed enthu,
siasti# t ha!e hi& n its %a#')
A%dal'uri/s &unt was alread( ahead * the&+ %ut as sn as
its dire#tin was %!ius the tru#'s #&ing !er the hill %egan
t draw a$art+ tw * the& lea!ing the rad n an inter#e$tin
#urse)
7athan .udged that the tru#'s were t *ar awa( t %e a%le t
#ut A%dal'uri **+ %ut he saw that there were &en swar&ing
arund the guns &unted n the %a#'s * the !ehi#les) He had
n du%t that he and his #&$anin were alread( within range)
The *iring %egan i&&ediatel(+ althugh it was the s&aller
ar&s that $ened u$ *irst3 the %igger guns re&ained silent
while the &en atte&$ting t ai& the& *ught t get the&
$r$erl( aligned)
Althugh he heard the whine * ne %ullet that $assed #lse
%(+ 7athan saw that the tru#'s whi#h had $eeled ** were
%un#ing t !ilentl( n the une!en grund t $r!ide a
gd $lat*r& *r &ar's&en) With a little lu#'+ he thught+
and gi!en that the grund #uld nl( get wrse the *urther the
tru#'s went *r& the rad+ his sure,*ted &unt &ight %e
a%le t #arr( hi& ut * range %e*re he was hit)
Un*rtunatel(+ his sure,*ted &unt did nt see& t see the
&atter in that light at all) While A%dal'uri/s hrse gall$ed
*ull,tilt *r the hri1n+ ai&ing *r the $int at whi#h
Ca!aln/s retinue *%east&en was due t a$$ear as the( $ld,
ded a*ter hi&+ 7athan/s &unt wheeled a%ut and #harged
awa( at a right,angle+ e-$sing the whle * its wide *lan' t
the gunners n the tw tru#'s)
The tru#'s were #lse enugh %( nw *r 7athan t sense the
gunners/ delight at *inding su#h a target+ and he 'new *ull well
that the( did nt need t hit hi& t seal his *ate) I* the(
%rught dwn the h&ed hrse while it was gall$ing the su%,
se2uent *all wuld #ertainl( disa%le hi&+ e!en i* it did nt 'ill
hi&)
Nw the %ig guns $ened u$+ %th tgether+ at what their
$eratrs thught was an eas( target)
The( were wrng)
7athan *elt the %last,wa!e as the shells sailed $ast hi&+ %ut
when the( *inall( #a&e t earth and e-$lded the( were &re
than a hundred (ards %ehind hi&) The ri*les #ntinued t %la1e
awa(+ %ut he #uld nt e!en hear the whine * their %ullets nw
that he had %een dea*ened %( the #annn) He suddenl( under,
std the &eaning * the enig&ati# reassuran#e that A%dal'uri
had gi!en hi&+ and the signi*i#an#e * the *a#t that the hrses/
#luratin , nt t &entin the thrall,wi1ards/ #stu&es ,
wuld &a'e the& stand ut s shar$l( against an( easil(,i&ag,
ina%le %a#'grund)
Cla&ur &ust %e a 'ind * illusin) The hrses and their
#ust&ar( riders were su$$sed t attra#t *ire , %ut their a$$ar,
ent $sitin was s&ehw de#e$ti!e) 8issiles ai&ed at the&
wuld alwa(s g astra()
Or+ i* nt alwa(s+ then &stl()
N sner had 7athan *igured ut the &anner * this tri#',
er(+ thugh+ than the hrse #hanged its ta#ti#s again) It wheeled
arund+ and this ti&e it #harged twards ne * the tru#'s+ n
an inter#e$tin #urse * its wn)
Be#ause the( were a$$ra#hing ne anther at an angle there
see&ed t %e n danger that the hrse wuld a#tuall( run right
int the *rnt * the tru#'+ %ut as the range di&inished ra$idl(
the gunners n the %a#' * %th tru#'s %e#a&e e!en &re
e-#ited) The %ig guns swi!elled urgentl(+ while the ri*le&en
#ntinued t *ire)
7athan did nt 'nw what t d+ e-#e$t du#') He $ressed his
*a#e int the hrse/s &ane+ dr$$ing his ar&s in rder t gri$
the ani&al arund the ne#') The reins were still #lut#hed tightl(
in his right hand+ %ut the( were e-er#ising n restraint whats,
e!er n the hrse) He shut his e(es re*le-i!el(+ ha!ing nt the
slightest idea what wuld ha$$en , and when the hrse/s
unnaturall( &assi!e h!es suddenl( #eased t %eat u$n the
grund he thught *r an instant that he had %een hit %( a %ul,
let and r%%ed * all sensatin+ *r he was still 2uite dea*)
Then he realised that he was still ali!e+ and whle+ and that
his &unt was sailing thrugh the air in an uni&agina%l(
$rdigius lea$) It .u&$ed right !er the #areering tru#'+ as dis,
dain*ull( as i* it were #learing a waist,high wden *en#e)
The landing .arred hi& %adl(+ %ut 7athan did nt *all+ and
the sheer e-ultatin * %eing ali!e &re than #&$ensated *r
the sh#') The .( in 2uestin was 2ui#'l( #&$unded as the
*rnt wheels * the tru#' he had lea$t !er *ell int a drainage
dit#h and %rught the !ehi#le t an a%ru$t halt)
At least+ the sudden des#ent int the dit#h wuld ha!e
%rught the tru#' t an a%ru$t halt had the dit#h nt %een
2uite s wide and dee$+ and had the &ass * the %ig gun nt
%een &unted s *ar %a#') The #&%inatin * the s$eed at
whi#h the tru#' had %een tra!elling+ the $re#i$itusness * the
des#ent and the i&%alan#e * the lad ensured that inertia
$lu#'ed the %a#' wheels *r& the t$ * a lw ridge and sent
the entire !ehi#le int a #artwheel)
The sheer weight * the !ehi#le slwed the as#ent * the
%a#' end+ %ut #uld nt slw it 2uite enugh) Al&st as sn
as the radiatr at the *rnt * the tru#' hit the dirt the %a#'
end attained the !erti#al+ and the !ehi#le %egan t t$$le
*rwards)
The &en n the %a#' tried t .u&$ #lear) The .u&$ing was
eas( enugh+ %ut landing was a !er( di**erent &atter) The(
#a&e dwn s&ersaulting+ their li&%s *lailing &adl(+ and *ur
ut * the *i!e *ell !er( %adl( indeed)
The *i*th *ell 2uite well+ and &ight ha!e %een unin.ured had
the tail%ard * the *alling tru#' nt #aught the t$ * his s'ull+
'illing hi& instantl()
The ther tru#' that had le*t the rad was in tru%le t+
althugh nt nearl( as &u#h) Its dri!er+ *rewarned+ had &an,
aged t steer sidewa(s as the !ehi#le a$$ra#hed the drainage
dit#h) He had &anaged t 'ee$ ne * the *rnt wheels #lear ,
%ut ne was nt enugh) Gi!en a se#nd &re warning+ he
&ight ha!e %een a%le t 'ee$ the ther #lear t , %ut as it was+
the le*t *rnt wheel ti$$ed !er the edge) The le*t rear wheel *l,
lwed it) The tru#' did nt ti$ and t$$le li'e its $rede#essr+
%ut it s'idded and shuddered t a slanting halt+ in#a$a%le *
*urther &!e&ent in an( dire#tin)
All the guns n the se#nd tru#' 'e$t %la1ing awa( at
7athan/s %rightl(,#lured &unt+ %ut the hrse #ntinued t
$resent a de#e$ti!e target) Tw &re e-$lsi!e shells %lasted
enr&us #raters in the *ar&er/s ra!aged *ields+ %ut 7a&an
re&ained &ira#ulusl( untu#hed)
Fr a &&ent r tw+ 7athan was #arried %a#' twards the
radwa(+ where &re ene&ies were gathered , %ut that ga!e
hi& the $$rtunit( t see that there was anther *ight in
$rgress+ *ar less e2ual than the ne in whi#h he had %een
engaged)
In rder t atta#' the *ar&huse the ther tru#'s had drawn
u$ in a line+ and I&$erial sldiers had swar&ed ut * the&+
heading *r the %uilding where Ga!aln+ H(#illa and 8alda(a'
were waiting) It had %een a rash &!e , %ut hw #uld the sl,
diers ha!e 'nwn that the $lants whi#h grew in su#h strange
$r*usin arund the huse had %een grwing with su#h
astnishing and unnatural *er!ur *r hurs6
Thse $lants were giants nw+ and the( were a#ti!e t)
Fr a &&ent+ 7athan thught that the( &ight hld %a#'
the atta#'ers and &urder the lt * the&+ %ut the( were nl(
$lants) The( slwed the atta#'ers dwn+ %ut it did nt see&
t 7athan+ at *irst glan#e+ that the( #uld hld the& *r
lng,
S&e * the sldiers had *la&e,thrwers li'e the nes that
had %urned the .ude(e *rest+ and were 2ui#' t use the&) The
$lants see&ed t de!ur Ha&e+ and t l!e the taste * it+ %ut
the %lasts $ersisted and sn turned the ta%les+ de!uring the&
in their turn) Others a&ng the sldiers had %lades as well as
guns , %lades that were shar$ enugh t stri'e a &an/s head
*r& his shulders in a #lse *ight , and the( were e!en &re
e**e#ti!e+ in their *ashin+ than the *la&e,thrwers)
When the $lants were hurt %( %eing #ut it see&ed t 7athan
t &a'e the& all the &re a!id t entwine their ste&s and
%ran#hes arund the li&%s and the %ellies * the sldiers+ in
rder that the( &ight s2uee1e and #rush and strangle the&)
On#e the( lst their #nne#tins t their rts+ thugh+ the(
lst &st * their strength)
But we/re winning0 7athan thught+ des$eratel(+ as his &unt
#hanged dire#tin (et again) We/re hlding the&0
Alas+ it was nt as si&$le as that) There were still artillerists
&anning the %ig guns n the tru#'s that had drawn u$ alng
the rad+ and the( $ened *ire n the *ar&huse)
The #la&ur * the #annnade %lended al&st i&&ediatel(
with the #rashing * *alling &asnr( and the s$lintering *
wden %ea&s+ %ut it was all s &uted in 7athan/s dea*ened
ears that it sunded !er( distant and rather strange)
Nr were thse gunners the nl( nes still #a$a%le * *iring)
The tru#' whse le*t side was $er#hed n the edge * the dit#h
was listing at an angle+ %ut that tilt was nt s stee$ as t $re,
!ent the %ig gun *r& %eing %rught t %ear+ and the ri*le&en
still had their wea$ns) The( were still *iring at 7athan/s glri,
us &unt+ althugh the nise * their wea$ns see&ed s
*aint as t %e slightl( a%surd)
Alas+ that a%surdit( was n ar&ur against the da&age the(
#uld d)
Their ai& was still #n*used+ %ut 7athan realised .ust a *ra#,
tin * a se#nd in ad!an#e * disaster that i* well,ai&ed shts
were #ertain t &iss a target+ then %adl(,ai&ed nes still had a
#han#e * *inding their &ar') There was a $e#uliar instant+ in
whi#h he thught he heard anther sund+ utterl( di**erent
*r& the e-$lsi!e gun*ire and &u#h &re hrri%le+ %ut he had
n $$rtunit( t wnder what it &ight %e i* it were &re than
&ere illusin)
His hrse was hit+ and he had n attentin t s$are therea*ter
*r an(thing %ut hi&sel*)
Had the hrse %een hit in the shulder r the head it wuld
ha!e gne dwn i&&ediatel(+ and 7athan wuld ha!e %een
sent s&ersaulting thrugh the air in e-a#tl( the sa&e *ashin
as the &en hurled *r& the tru#' that had turned !er)
Althugh the wund the ani&al t' was n less &rtal+ the
$int * i&$a#t was #lse t the st#' * its ratli'e tail) Instead
* #artwheeling+ the %east lst its %a#' legs and slithered+ while
its *rnt legs #ntinued t stri!e gallantl(+ %ut !ainl(+ *r $ur,
#hase)
The de#eleratin see&ed hrri%l( a%ru$t t 7athan+ and the
des#ent t the grund was %ruising+ %ut e!en as he *ught t
a!id %eing thrwn he realised that *rtune was still n his
side) He had a #han#e t .u&$ #lear and rll+ and i* he #uld
nl( #ntrl the tu&%le well enugh t a!id %rea'ing a li&%
he #uld still *ight n , *ight %eing the $erati!e wrd+ nw
that he was *ull( e-$sed and 2uite withut gla&ur)
He di!ed+ and he rlled)
The grund was %etter than it &ight ha!e %een+ *ir& withut
%eing undul( hard) His &us#les were .arred and his ner!es
were .angled+ %ut 7athan e!entuall( #a&e t rest l(ing n his
side+ with all his li&%s inta#t) He was nt e!en winded+ and he
had the $resen#e * &ind t l' u$ %e*re tr(ing t get u$+
in rder t see e-a#tl( where he was and where his ene&ies
were)
Perha$s the #le!er hrse had #ntri!ed it and $erha$s it was
&ere #han#e+ %ut 7athan *und+ t his delight+ that he was lit,
tle &re than ten (ards awa( *r& the tru#' that had
!erturned+ and that the %d( * the tru#' was shielding hi&
*r& the *ire that wuld therwise ha!e %een strea&ing *r&
the ther ne)
There was a &an with a gun nt a d1en *eet awa(4 a li!ing
&an+ whse e(es were *i-ed n 7athan and whse ar&s were
tr(ing t %ring a ri*le rund s that its &u11le wuld %e $int,
ing at his *a#e) But the &an had %r'en a leg and an ar& as he
*ell aw'wardl(+ and he #uld nt d what he was tr(ing s !er(
hard t a##&$lish)
7athan laun#hed hi&sel* *rward and wrestled the gun *ree
*r& the stri#'en &an/s ne gd hand , and then he s&ashed
the %utt * the wea$n dwn n the sldier/s head)
That/s *r Hui&e0 he thught)
7athan/s %rain+ un$r&$ted+ #&$leted a #al#ulatin whi#h
tld hi& that there &ust %e a hundred and thirt( !illagers still
t a!enge+ %ut there was a $ain in his heart that was nt in the
least #n#erned with #al#ulatins) His &ther was a&ng
thse wh &ight ha!e %een &urdered+ and he 'new that these
were the sldiers wh had ta'en e!er(thing *r& hi& that he
l!ed+ and e!er(thing that he 'new) E!en H(#illa was lst t
hi& nw+ ha!ing %e#&e Ni&ian/s #reature+ and the agn( in
his heart tld hi& that he was utterl( alne)
It was the agn( in his heart+ nt the #al#ulatin in his %rain+
whi#h re!ersed his gri$ n the ri*le and sent hi& s$rawling int
the dit#h+ $eering arund the u$turned tru#' in sear#h * tar,
gets)
The ther tru#' was less than thirt( (ards awa(+ and it was *ull
* targets)
7athan ne!er $aused t re&e&%er that he had ne!er *ired a
gun in his li*e %e*re+ and that did nt e!en 'nw hw) Nr did
he $ause when he *elt the *irst re#il tear int his shulder
&us#les+ &re $ain*ul than the .lting he had re#ei!ed when
his hrse #lla$sed)
He *elt the dis#harge * the gun+ %ut he #uld nt hear it at
all)
He *ired+ and he 'e$t n *iring , and when the gun ran ut
* a&&unitin+ he s#ra&%led %a#' t the u$turned tru#'+
deter&ined t *ind anther gun i* he #uld nt *ind the where,
withal t relad the ne he had)
He *und anther ri*le+ and t' ad!antage * the #!er
a**rded %( the !ehi#le t resu&e *iring)
The sldiers *r& the &re distant tru#' had %egun a #harge
as sn as the( were #ertain that he was ut * a&&unitin+
%ut the( were #harging at the wrng $sitin) 7athan sht tw
* the& dwn %e*re the( realised their &ista'e)
Then the %east&en arri!ed)
Ca!aln/s laggard retinue #a&e #harging a#rss the *ields li'e
sta&$eding #attle+ hwling &re ludl( than 7athan wuld
e!er ha!e thught $ssi%le , ludl( enugh+ in *a#t+ t #ut int
his dea*ness where e!en the #ra#' * the ri*le had *ailed) E!en
&uted+ as the( were t 7athan+ the %east&en/s hwls were ter,
ri%le+ neither hu&an nr ani&al %ut %th at n#e , e!er(thing
at n#e+ &ingling in a s#rea& s shar$ it see&ed t ha!e the
$wer t la#erate and #ar!e)
7athan hwled t)
Althugh his (ell * anger and triu&$h was a *ee%le thing %(
#&$arisn with the hwling * the %east&en+ 2uite inaudi%le
t hi&+ it &ust ha!e added its *r#e t the tu&ult)
7athan *elt that he was ne with the %east&en+ a sharer in
their $wer and their deter&inatin)
He #a&e ut int the $en then+ t .in in a $it#hed %attle+
#hsing his targets nw with the ut&st #are+ lest he shuld
hit ne * his allies instead * an ene&()
He was sure that he had 'illed at least ne &re ene&(
%e*re he was stru#' dwn hi&sel* , and when he *ell+ *eeling
a #urtain * ht wet %ld gush li'e a water*all !er his *re,
head and int his e(es+ he *elt nthing at all %ut astnish&ent4
n $ain+ n srrw+ n regret)
Wh(+ he thught+ as his senses s$un awa( *r& hi&+ I thught
I was in!in#i%le) I reall( did0
EIGHTEEN
WHEN H9CILLA SAW the tru#'s s$lit int tw gru$s , tw *
the& #hasing 7athan and the thrall,wi1ard+ while *ur #ntin,
ued t a$$ra#h the huse , her *irst thught was a *lash *
h$e that 7athan/s steed &ight %e a%le t #arr( hi& ut *
range * the guns) She had n du%t that Ca!aln #uld de*end
hi&sel*+ and an(ne wh re&ained with hi&+ althugh the
sr#erer did nt a$$ear at *irst glan#e t %e #arr(ing an(
wea$n ade2uate t deal with the i&$ending threat)
E!en Ca!aln see&ed slightl( distressed+ *r a &&ent r
tw , %ut then she realised that he was intensel( ann(ed)
/I had h$ed t sa!e the hrn *r the real %attle+/ he said t
8alda(a'+ /%ut a %last su**i#ient t deal with these re#'less
*ls shuld nt de$lete its $wer t &u#h) Prte#t (ur ears
, n &atter hw well I dire#t the wea$n+ there/s #ertain t %e
lea'age at this range) 9u &ust d li'ewise+ #hild+ n &atter
hw well Sathrael has strengthened (u) 9ur ears are grw,
ing ni#el(+ %ut the(/ll still need t %e stu**ed with s&ething
!irtuus) Gi!e her a stri$ *r& (ur .er'in+ 8alda(a')/
Ca!aln see&ed 2uite unhurried while he &ade this s$ee#h+
%ut 8alda(a' shwed a greater sense * urgen#( as he tre
stri$s * %right (ellw #lth *r& his de#rated .a#'et+ $assing
tw t H(#illa with a slightl( ill gra#e %e*re he %egan stu**ing
his wn ears with $rte#ti!e wadding)
H(#illa #$ied hi&+ while Ga!aln deta#hed the h& that
hung *r& the right side * his %elt+ $$site his hea!( swrd)
H(#illa had heard that the hrns * l-dnts were s&e,
ti&es used as signalling de!i#es when it was in#n!enient t
&a'e %ea#n,*ires+ %ut the nl( wind instru&ents she had e!er
heard were deli#ate and *lut(+ &ade *r& the little hrns *
gha1als) Ca!aln/s hrn did nt see& s !er( large+ and it #er,
tainl( was nt as #url( as the hrn * an ld ra&+ %ut it was
intri#atel( #ar!ed and ela%ratel( ena&elled in a he#ti# &i-ture
* reds+ (ellws and %lues)
As the tru#'s s#ree#hed t a halt and the sldiers swar&ed
*r& the& %ullets %egan t $ur thrugh the windws * the
*ar&huse+ *r#ing H(#illa and 8alda(a' t du#' dwn)
Al&st i&&ediatel(+ thugh+ the *iring %e#a&e #n*used)
Pee$ing !er the windw,sill+ H(#illa saw that the nati!e
weeds that had in!aded the *ar&(ard in su#h nu&%ers were nt
as eas( t tra&$le dwn as the %ted sldiers had i&agined)
Onl( a *ew had grwn *ast enugh t rea#h head height+ %ut
&an( were waist high and &an( &re had e-tended #ree$ers
si- r eight *eet alng the grund) As sn as the sldiers were
within the #n*ining wall * what had n#e %een the *ar&er/s
her%,garden the( *und the&sel!es under atta#')
When the $ur$le and $in' ste&s and #ree$ers %egan t gra$,
$le with the legs * the #harging sldiers+ the sldiers were
2ui#' t *ight %a#') Fur wh had *la&e,thrwers read( , $re,
su&a%l( t *ld the r&s * the huse with *ire and *r#e its
inha%itants ut int the $en , i&&ediatel( used their
wea$ns t #unter,atta#'+ %ut the( had t %e e-tre&el( #are,
*ul nt t in.ure the&sel!es r their #&$anins) The ene&(
was alread( at #lse 2uarters+ and the engage&ent was *ar t
inti&ate t allw the re#'less use * *la&ing li2uid)
Fr a &&ent r tw+ the $lants a#tuall( see&ed t %e thri!,
ing n the *la&es+ as i* the %urning li2uid were s&e 'ind *
s$i#( nutri&ent , and when the !egetatin did %egin t %u&+
it was the $lants whi#h were nt a#ti!el( in!l!ed in the #n,
*li#t that su**ered &st)
The sldiers #arr(ing ri*les had t st$ *iring in rder t *ree
their right hands t rea#h *r their 'ni!es) On#e #lear * their
s#a%%ards and de$l(ed with reasna%le s'ill+ the %lades #ut
thrugh the %ran#hes and #ree$ers readil( enugh , %ut the
se!ered ends #ntinued t harass their !i#ti&s+ s2uir&ing and
s2uee1ing as %est the( #uld)
Withut an#hrage+ alas+ there was little enugh the se!ered
%ran#hes #uld d+ althugh thse with thrns dug dee$
enugh t $enetrate the s'in %eneath the sldiers/ uni*r&s+
and a *ew * thse that were $er*e#tl( s&th lea'ed #rrsi!e
sa$) Three r *ur * the atta#'ers %egan t hwl with $ain ,
%ut nne * the& *ell+ and their hwling sn had as &u#h
rage as anguish in it)
Be#ause the atta#'ers see&ed t %e ha!ing su#h e-tre&e di*,
*i#ult( getting t the wall * the huse+ H(#illa was %ld
enugh t li*t her head a little higher+ %ut she regretted her
rashness as the %ig guns n the tru#'s $ened u$)
The gunners had ai&ed high in rder t a!id hitting their
wn &en+ s she was in n danger * ta'ing a dire#t hit+ %ut the
shells $un#hed ga$ing hles in the &asnr( and tre int the
%ea&s hlding u$ the r*) The huse had nt %een %adl(
%uilt+ %ut its stru#ture had nt %een designed t withstand a
#lle#ti!e sh#' * this &agnitude) The #eiling i&&ediatel(
%egan t #ru&%le and de%ris %egan t rain dwn n H(#illa/s
shulders)
She du#'ed+ $utting her hands t her head in rder t $r,
te#t her s'ull) It was as well that she did+ *r the &!e &ade it
eas( *r her t #la&$ her *rear&s !er her wadded ears when
Ca!aln returned *ire)
All the sr#erer did was t %lw his hrn , %ut the h& was
laded with a $wer *ar greater+ in its wn su%tle *ashin+ than
the ene&( guns)
H(#illa #uld nt ha!e des#ri%ed the nte sunded %( the
h& in &usi#al ter&s) She #uld nt tell whether it was high,
$it#hed r lw+ &re li'e a tru&$et r &re li'e a reed $i$e)
Had she %een re2uired t sa( what it was li'e she #uld nl(
ha!e #&$ared it t $ain+ %ut e!en then she wuld nt ha!e
%een #ertain what 'ind * $ain it was) Perha$s it was si&$l(
that she had nt had enugh e-$erien#e * di**erent 'inds *
$ain+ %ut it see&ed t her that this was a 'ind *ar $urer than
an(thing generated %( a %la1ing *ire+ a $ier#ing dart+ a thunder,
ing heada#he r a %ne,sli#ing %lade)
The I&$erial sldiers had $r%a%l( had *ar &re $$rtuni,
ties t %e#&e dis#ri&inating #nnisseurs * $ain than
H(#illa had+ %ut she #uld nt %elie!e that the( wuld ha!e
dne an( %etter)
E!en thugh the %uilding was still #ru&%ling+ H(#illa li*ted
her head again as sn as she was sure that the artillerists
a%ard the tru#'s had #eased *iring) She saw i&&ediatel( that
the hlding a#tin #ndu#ted %( the $lants had %een a great
su##ess in s$ite * the $lants/ inade2ua#( as warrirs) Nt a sin,
gle sldier had rea#hed the wall * the huse+ and it see&ed
%!ius nw that nne wuld) All %ut tw * thse wh had
#&e int the (ard had *allen+ at least t their 'nees)
8st * the atta#'ers had dr$$ed their wea$ns , 'ni!es as
well as ri*les , in rder t #las$ %th hands t their ears+ %ut the
$re#autin had %een we*ull( inade2uate) Se!eral were in the
gri$ * #n!ulsi!e *its that see&ed li'el( t sha'e the& a$art)
Others were *a&ing at the &uth+ the *a& turning red as it
was *lded with %ld *r& tngues %itten thrugh)
The gunners n the tru#'s had nt %een 2uite as %adl(
a**e#ted+ and the dri!ers * the tru#'s e!en less s , the latter
had the $rte#tin * their windwed #a%s t than' *r that ,
%ut the tw re&aining &en n the &st distant * the *ur
tru#'s see&ed t %e the nl( nes still #a$a%le * #ns#ius
a#tin) While the gunner struggled t re#!er his $ise and his
$sitin the dri!er threw the tru#' int re!erse gear and %egan
t draw awa()
H(#illa %e#a&e aware that Ca!aln had ta'en hld * her ,
and the thrall,wi1ard t , and that he was thrusting the&
twards the windw)
/Out0 Out0/ he (elled)
H(#illa realised that the h& had al&st $aral(sed her+ and
8alda(a' t , and that their wea'ness $ut the& in great dan,
ger+ gi!en that the huse was still #lla$sing in u$n itsel*)
She 'new that she had t hel$ Ca!aln+ and &ade a su$re&e
e**rt t ta'e #harge * her wn li&%s) Had her ar&s and legs
%een as s#rawn( and wea' as the( had %een tw da(s %e*re she
wuld ha!e had s&e di**i#ult( #li&%ing thrugh the windw+
%ut her li&%s were *ar lnger nw+ and $ssessed * a strength
that she had nt (et tested) She t' hld * the sill and lea$t
thrugh the narrw ga$ with a single %und+ &re gra#e*ull(
than she wuld e!er ha!e thught $ssi%le)
Ga!aln/s intentin had %een that 8alda(a' wuld *llw
her) The sr#erer was alread( (elling a *urther instru#tin t his
thrall,wi1ard+ telling hi& t &unt his hrse and #hase the
tru#' , %ut the instru#tin was wrthless+ %e#ause 8alda(a'/s
li&%s were %( n &eans as lithe as H(#illa/s) The wi1ard tried
t #li&%+ %ut he #uld nt #,rdinate his a#tins) S&ehw+
he %e#a&e wedged in the windw)
The re&ainder * the r* *inall( *ell in)
Then the wall #lla$sed utwards+ #arr(ing 8alda(a' with it)
Ga!aln was still inside)
H(#illa had t lea$ %a#'wards in rder t a!id %eing
tra$$ed %( the *alling wall+ %ut her %a#'ward lea$ #arried her a
d1en *eet) She landed %eside ne * the disa%led sldiers+ wh
was still thrashing a%ut in an atte&$t t disldge a d1en *ee,
%le %ut in#n!enient !egeta%le ser$ents *r& !arius $arts *
his %d() H(#illa $i#'ed u$ his dis#arded 'ni*e , a 'een %lade
&re than tw *eet lng , and slashed his thrat)
He #ntinued thrashing+ %ut har&lessl() The $lants dran' u$
his li*e%ld greedil()
H(#illa hardl( s$ared hi& a glan#e+ staring instead at the
$la#e where Ga!aln the Great had disa$$eared under a &ass
* *alling &asnr()
A &ere &an wuld $r%a%l( ha!e %een 'illed+ r at least
'n#'ed un#ns#ius+ %ut Ca!aln was n &ere &an) He rse
u$ *r& the ru%%le+ sending %ri#'s and &rtar #as#ading in
e!er( dire#tin+ &re angr( than hurt , %ut he had nt lst his
$wer * #al#ulatin+ and he had nt *rgtten that he was in
the &iddle * a %attle)
His *irst i&$ulse+ it see&ed t H(#illa+ was t $ull 8alda(a'
ut * the wre#'age+ s that the wi1ard #uld %e( his rder+ %ut
it t' hi& nl( a #u$le * se#nds t realise that 8alda(a'
had %een #aught at a *ar wrse disad!antage than he had)
The thrall,wi1ard was nt dead+ %ut he had %r'en at least
ne leg and at least ne ar&) He was useless)
Ca!aln/s e(es i&&ediatel( *i-ed n H(#illa+ 2uestiningl()
/I/ll *llw the&0/ she said+ when she realised that he was
waiting) /I/ll 'ill the&)/ She was a&a1ed %( her wn wrds)
Hw #uld she $ssi%l( &a'e su#h a $r&ise6
Ga!aln ndded+ i&&ediatel( a#2uies#ent+ and see&ingl(
de!id * an( du%t as t her a%ilit( t #hase a tru#' and 'ill
its $assengers)
The ne wh was *ull( e-$sed will nt %e !er( dangerus+/ he
said+ /%ut the ther &ight))) %e #are*ul+ I %eg * (u) G0 G0/
H(dlla turned) Withut %thering t 2uestin the sense *
the a#tin r the &agnitude * the tas' she had a##e$ted+ she
%egan t &n , and as sn as she settled int her stride+ she
realised that Ga!aln &ust 'nw her new #a$a%ilities %etter
than she did) She glan#ed %a#' n#e+ nt s &u#h t see what
Ga!aln was ding as t see what had %e#&e * 7athan)
Her heart lea$t int her &uth when she saw that 7athan/s
hrse was dwn+ %ut then she saw that he was n his *eet+ and
ar&ed) Li'e her+ he was #arr(ing the *ight t the ene&() He had
nt grwn at all sin#e Ni&ian had tu#hed hi&+ and did nt
a$$ear t %e #hanging in an( wa( whatse!er+ %ut he had risen
t the ##asin ne!ertheless)
He is a her0 she thught) E!en a %( li'e hi& &a( %e#&e a
her+ when disaster stri'es0
She saw Ga!aln+ t+ %ut nl( !er( %rie*l() The sr#erer was
running twards the (uth+ $resu&a%l( t hel$ hi&) Then she
heard a strange nise+ whi#h s&ehw #ntri!ed t $enetrate
nt nl( the #lured wadding in her ears %ut the a*tersh#' *
Ca!aln/s h&)
It was an eerie and *right*ul nise+ and she had the i&$res,
sin that under ther #ir#u&stan#es+ it &ight ha!e see&ed
lud and %ld,#urdling+ %ut she had t %ring her head %a#'
rund then in rder t &aintain her %alan#e as she s$ed alng
the rad+ *aster than she had e!er seen an( hu&an %eing run)
But I a& n lnger hu&an+ she re&inded hersel*) I ha!e %een
tu#hed %( the #reature that Ni&ian is %e#&ing) I ha!e %een
tu#hed %( a Lrd * Change &re $wer*ul than an( ther+
and there was s&ething in &e that res$nded t its tu#h) I
a& &re than hu&an nw) I a& %urning *ar &re ra$idl(+ and
*ar &re %rightl(+ than I #uld e!er ha!e dne as a &ere wise,
drea&er)
She realised as she settled int an e!en+ #are*ull( &easured
stride that the tru#' was nt drawing awa( *r& her) E!en
thugh the dri!er had ta'en the *irst $$rtunit( t turn it
arund+ s that it was &!ing *rwards instead * %a#'wards+
it was nt &!ing an( *aster than she was)
H(#illa 'new+ ha!ing sat in a dri!er/s seat , e!en thugh she
had %een in a !er( strange state * &ind at the ti&e , that the
dri!er wuld %e a%le t see her i&age in the &irrr set in the
#entre * the #a%+ a%!e his head) He wuld 'nw+ there*re+ i*
he #ared t l'+ that he was %eing $ursued)
Perha$s that wuld nt *righten hi&+ gi!en that she still
l'ed li'e a (ung girl+ in s$ite r her in#reased stature , %ut
$erha$s it wuld+ gi!en that n &ere girl #uld %e ding what
she was ding withut &agi#al aid)
The &an n the %a#' * the tru#' #uld see her t+ and she
#uld see hi& 2uite #learl() He had *allen dwn when the
hrn/s %last hit hi&+ %ut i* he had e-$erien#ed a #n!ulsi!e *it+
it was !er nw) There was n sign * %ld r *a& at his
&uth+ and he l'ed as i* he &ight %e a%le t stand u$ again
i* nl( he #uld *ind the strength) H(#illa did nt du%t that he
was tr(ing t *ind that strength with all his &ight+ %ut *r the
&&ent it was a lsing %attle) He #uld nt draw hi&sel* int
a sitting r 'neeling $sitin+ in s$ite * ha!ing the $linth and
&unt * his gun t hld n t)
His e(es were *ir&l( *i-ed n the !ehi#le/s $ursuer+ and there
was terrr in the&)
H(#illa t' a #ertain satis*a#tin *r& that terrr+ %ut she
'new that it wuld ha!e %een &re t her ad!antage i* the &an
had %een laughing) Terrr &ight hel$ hi& gather his strength)
Terrr &ight hel$ hi& %ring his wea$n t %ear , and n &at,
ter hw &u#h unhu&an strength Ni&ian/s tu#h had gi!en
her+ a well,ai&ed sht *r& a #annn li'e that wuld %lw her
t s&ithereens)
Ca!aln had tld her that the &an wuld %e hel$less *r
s&e ti&e+ %ut Ca!aln had nt *a#tred the terrr int his #al,
#ulatin either)
H(#illa tried t a##elerate+ %ut it wasn/t eas() She 'new that
she &ustn/t e-haust hersel* t sn+ and that she had t $a#e
hersel* in anti#i$atin * a lng #hase) She als 'new that she
had t %egin t #lse the distan#e se$arating her *r& the
tru#')
She a##elerated+ %ut s did the tru#') The dri!er #uld see her
, and he was a*raid)
Nw+ thugh+ the tru#' #uld g n *aster) But H(#illa still
had reser!es * strength unta$$ed)
Steadil(+ (ard %( (ard+ she %egan t eat int the distan#e se$,
arating her *r& the stri#'en gunner) While he stared at her+ she
stared at hi&+ nt terri*ied at all+ nr e!en slightl( a$$rehen,
si!e)
Her #n*iden#e &ade the gunner tr( e!en harder t rise t his
*eet) Finall(+ he &anaged t sit u$) The e**rt #st hi& dearl( in
$ain+ %ut it see&ed t %e a $ri#e he was willing t $a() He
%ra#ed hi&sel* *r an e!en greater e**rt+ gritting his teeth in
anti#i$atin * $a(ing an e!en higher $ri#e) Had he %een a
#ward+ he wuld ha!e *ailed+ %ut he was a %ra!e &an)
I* he had a gd+ H(#illa thught+ he &ust ha!e **ered u$ a
$arti#ularl( $wer*ul $ra(er) Against all the dds+ he %egan t
haul hi&sel* t his *eet)
On#e he was ere#t+ H(#illa 'new+ the rest wuld %e s &u#h
easier) He had nl( t ad.ust his $sitin+ and ai& the gun) The
gun was swi!el,&unted+ easil( &aneu!ra%le) It wuld nt %e
eas( t ai& *r& the %a#' * a !ehi#le &!ing at *ull tilt !er
su#h an ill,&ade rad+ %ut he wuld nt ha!e t %e !er( $re,
#ise)
She was nl( twent( (ards awa( nw+ and still #lsing) B( the
ti&e he #uld get the gun aligned+ she wuld surel( %e less
than ten (ards awa( , unless she a%andned the #hase and
&!ed ** the rad int the #rn,#% *rest whi#h the( had .ust
re,entered+ in rder t *llw &re dis#reetl()
It was her #hi#e)
She a##elerated again+ thrwing e!er( last !estige * her
strength int a *inal s$rint) The inter!ening distan#e lessened
dra&ati#all(+ *r#ing the gunner t a *urther e**rt * his wn)
His legs were nt as willing as hers) He stu&%led)
That lst hi& at least ten se#nds+ and ten se#nds was
&re than H(#illa needed) B( the ti&e he had re#!ered his
*r&er $se she was lea$ing u$ n t the %a#' * the tru#'+
hauling hersel* !er the tail%ard with an i&$r%a%l( *luid
&tin)
There was a ri*le in the #&er+ %ut it was ut * rea#h) H(#illa
sla&&ed int the gunner e!en as he turned+ and the i&$a#t
&ust ha!e *illed his %d( with $aral(sing $ain all !er again)
His %d( hit the %a#' wall * the #a% li'e a sa#' * grain+ and
%un#ed)
The sldier #lla$sed+ turning as he *ell t *a#e her again with
his terrr,stri#'en e(es)
H(#illa 'nelt !er hi& and $ressed the $int * her %lade t
his thrat)
/One 2uestin+/ she whis$ered) Wh( did (u destr( &( !il,
lage+ and 'ill e!er(ne in it6/
She used her le*t hand t tear the rags ut * her ears in rder
that she &ight hear his re$l()
He l'ed at her as i* she were &ad , as i* an(ne wh
as'ed su#h a 2uestin as that &ust %e &ad) There was hrrr
and lathing in his e(es t+ %ut the( were utweighed %(
astnish&ent)
/I))) I was *llwing rders+> he said+ as i* it were a%slutel(
%!ius and s&ething * whi#h a &an &ight %e $rud)
H(#illa had %een intending t slash his thrat as she had
slashed the thrat * the &an whse 'ni*e his n#e was+ %ut
when she heard that re$l( she #hanged her &ind+ and de*tl(
used the $int * the wea$n t %lind hi& in %th e(es)
Then she $i#'ed hi& u$ as i* she were a la%urer with $w,
er*ul &us#les hauling a sa#' * grain n t a sturd( shulder+
and hurled hi& !er the side * the still,s$eeding tru#'+ h$,
ing that he &ight li!e lng enugh t %ring hi&sel* t his *eet
again and stagger ** int the hstile *rest , whse $redatrs
wuld du%tless dis$se * hi& at their leisure)
<
NINETEEN
7ATHAN 7REA8E7 THAT he was ta'ing $art in a great %attle+
whse *ire and *ur( stret#hed *r& hri1n t hri1n * a !ast
$lain) It was the dead * night+ and the nl( illu&inatin a$art
*r& the *aint and ha1( light * the three &ns and the &ul,
titudinus stars was $r!ided %( the &u11le,*lashes *
#untless guns) He had a gun hi&sel*+ whi#h he was *iring
re$eatedl( and &e#hani#all(+ alwa(s *inding shadw( targets
at whi#h t ai& %ut ne!er 'nwing whether an( * his shts
stru#' h&e)
He was surrunded %( %east&en and ther &nsters4 #rea,
tures that had n#e %een hu&an %ut were hu&an n lnger+
ha!ing su**ered terri%le &utatins and &utilatins) Su#h
ar&ur as the( had was %rightl(,#lured+ %ut the #lurs
see&ed ddl( dra% in the di& light) Onl( a *ew had guns+
while the rest wielded &assi!e %lades * !arius %i1arre sha$es)
The( t *ught shadws+ %ut the shadws the( *ught had
guns * their wn+ and %lades t) N &atter hw &an( shad,
ws *aded r *ell+ there see&ed t %e an in*inite nu&%er rising
anew *r& the &udd( grund)
The &ud was nt #&$unded ut * sil and rainwater+ %ut
ut * sil and %ld)
He aw'e with a start t *ind that s&ene was sha'ing hi&
%( the shulder) He #uld nt $en his e(es at *irst %e#ause
the( were sealed shut+ %ut he ru%%ed the& and *r#ed the&
$en) The 'nu#'les with whi#h he had ru%%ed the& were dar'
red+ and he realised that it had %een dried %ld that had #a'ed
his e(elashes and l#'ed his e(elids shut)
When he li*ted his head he dis#!ered that the alar&ing e(es
* Ga!aln the Great were staring at hi&) It was Ca!aln wh
had sha'en hi& awa'e)
7athan $ut his hand u$ t his head then+ t *eel the wund
that had *elled hi&) His &atted hair was in the wa(+ %ut his *in,
gerti$s tra#ed the length * a ridge * h&( s#ar,tissue that
ar#hed a#rss his head an in#h r tw %ehind the hairline) It
wasn/t $ain*ul)
/7id (u heal &e6/ he as'ed the sr#erer) /7id (u %ring &e
%a#' *r& the dead6/
/Healing isn/t ne * &( talents+/ Ca!aln grwled+ /and n
ne #&es %a#' *r& the dead as hale and #heer*ul as (u
see& t %e) But (es+ I sealed the wund) It/s a great deal less
$rett( than it wuld ha!e %een had it healed * its wn a##rd+
%ut I #uldn/t wait , (u &ight ha!e sle$t till t&rrw+ and I
need (u nw)/
What *r6/ 7athan wanted t 'nw) He was alread( hauling
hi&sel* t his *eet and l'ing arund) The %attle was !er+ %ut
the %east&en were still &!ing ra$idl( %a#' and *rth !er the
grund+ s#a!enging *r wea$ns)
The tru#'s+/ Ca!aln said) We need the&+ s we need t
'nw hw t &a'e the& wr')/
/Hw wuld I 'nw that6/ 7athan as'ed+ in *ran'
astnish&ent) /I/& .ust a !illager , nt e!en a #ra*ts&an/s
a$$renti#e)/ He nti#ed that there was a ri*le at his *eet+ and
re&e&%ered using it) He tu#hed the *ingers * his le*t hand
t his right shulder+ where the wea$n/s $ersistent re#il had
le*t a %ruise) That still hurt &re than a little+ %ut the twinge
released a surge * $ride as he re&e&%ered what he had dne)
He &ight nt ha!e %een a$$inted an a$$renti#e+ and &ight
ne!er ha!e %e#&e a true #ra*ts&an e!en i* his li*e had #lung
t its rut * nr&alit(+ %ut he was a &an nw) He was a
warrir)
/9u wat#hed the girl+/ Ca!aln said) /9u saw what she
did)/
/I dn/t re&e&%er0/ 7athan $rtested) Then his !i#e
dr$$ed as he added+ &re hnestl(4 /I wasn/t $a(ing atten,
tin)/
That desn/t &atter+> Ga!aln said) The girl was guided+ and
(u were %eside her) The =essel tu#hed %th * (u+ and drew
(u int the $r#ess * his &aturatin) With (u %eside &e+ I
#an easil( re#all an e#h * the guidan#e the girl re#ei!ed , and
I/!e $wer enugh t share what I learn with thse in thrall t
&e) One tru#' gt awa( and ne %r'e an a-le+ %ut the ar&(
needs the ther *ur) 9u/re the 'e()/
7athan was #n*used %( this s$ee#h+ %ut when its i&$rt
%e#a&e #lear he saw its &st wrr(ing i&$li#atin)
Where/s H(#illa6/ he de&anded) Wh( #an/t she shw (u
what t d6/
/Nt here+/ Ca!aln ad&itted+ with a slight sigh) /She *l,
lwed the &en wh dr!e awa(+ %e#ause she was the nl( ne
wh #uld) Perha$s I #uld ha!e de&anded that she sta(+ i* I
had had su**i#ient $resen#e * &ind in the heat * the %attle+
%ut she is nt in thrall t &e an( &re than (u are) She was
res$nding t a higher #all+ and I wuld nl( ha!e #n*used
her %( tr(ing t $re!ent it+ and s I urged her t g) But all will
%e well+ I trust , %e#ause I ha!e (u)/
7athan was astnished %( this s$ee#h+ as &u#h %( the #n,
*essin that a &an and a sr#erer as $wer*ul as Ca!aln #uld
la#' $resen#e * &ind in the heat * %attle as %( the i&$li#a,
tin that he had s&ehw %e#&e an i&$rtant ele&ent *
Ga!aln/s s#he&e) T #!er his #n*usin he 'nelt dwn t
$i#' u$ the ri*le , his ri*le+ %( right * #n2uest) As sn as he
had his hands n it+ thugh+ the i&$atient sr#erer $ulled hi&
u$right again+ and thrust hi& twards ne * the tru#'s) It was
the ne whse wheels had sli$$ed sidewa(s int the dit#h+ %ut
it was n lnger stu#') Ga!aln/s %east&en &ust ha!e used
le!ers t $rise it ut and set it t rights) 7athan re&e&%ered
shting the &an wh had *ired the %ig gun at hi&)
/Where/s Ni&ian6/ 7athan as'ed)
/He didn/t #&e %a#'+/ Ga!aln re$lied+ as he in#reased his
$a#e+ $ulling 7athan alng with hi&) /I dare nt wait an(
lnger) He/ll *ind us easil( enugh when he wants t , i* he
wants t) I ught t get these wea$ns t the ar&() Ful%ra will
%e n us sn enugh+ and I &ust $la#e &(sel* in a $sitin t
sha$e the en#unter as %est ; #an) E!er( gun will %e des$eratel(
needed+ n &atter what $art Sathrael intends t $la() The
Changer * the Wa(s will du%tless let &e 'nw what &( $an
is t %e when the ti&e #&es)/
The sr#erer thrust 7athan int the #a% * the tru#'+ and
#li&%ed u$ %ehind hi& as sn as 7athan had s#ra&%led !er
t the $assenger seat) Ga!aln $ut his &issha$en *ingers t his
ragged li$s and whistled an ear,s$litting signal t his retinue *
%east&en) Thrugh the side,windw * the #a% 7athan #uld
see that the( res$nded as ne+ running t the tru#'s with the
last * their %t()
/Wh( didn/t (u use &agi# the &&ent (u saw the tru#'s6/
7athan as'ed) /Wh( did (u let the& get s #lse and d s
&u#h da&age6/
Ga!aln l'ed at hi& shar$l() Had the sr#erer/s *a#e %een
&re hu&an+ 7athan thught+ he wuld ha!e %een wearing
e-a#tl( the sa&e e-$ressin that his &ther and Pater Saltana
had $ut n when he had as'ed ne 2uestin t &an( , %ut
unli'e the&+ Ga!aln didn/t see& t %egrudge hi& his #uris,
it()
/Had (u had an at& * talent+ %(+/ the sr#erer said+ /we
&ight ha!e &ade a wi1ard ut * (u)/
It was %!iusl( &eant t %e a #&$li&ent+ %ut 7athan
#uldn/t 2uite see the lgi# * it) Was as'ing 2uestins a 2uali,
*i#atin *r wi1ardr(6 Surel( nt) He $ened his &uth t
s$ea' again+ %ut Ga!aln $la#ed a #lawli'e hand u$n his
shulder+ and the &assi!e talns dug int his %ruise .ust hard
enugh t sh#' hi& int silen#e)
Tr( t re&e&%er+ 7athan+/ Ca!aln said %rus2uel() Tr( t
reli!e the &&ent when (u *irst gt int ne * these things)
Re&e&%er what H(#illa did) Re&e&%er the e-$ressin n her
*a#e)/
I* it had %een an(ne else %ut the sr#erer %eside hi&+
7athan wuld ha!e had di**i#ult( #lle#ting hi&sel* , %ut it
was the sr#erer+ and the wrds see&ed t *lw int his head+
e-er#ising an awes&e $wer * #&&and)
As sn as H(#illa had the dr $en she had lea$t u$ int
the e&$t( s$a#e+ and had then rea#hed %a#' t **er 7athan
the su$$rt * her ar&) He had ta'en her hand and #la&%ered
u$ %ehind her) B( the ti&e he was in she had s#ra&%led a#rss
t set hersel* in the *urther seat * a &at#hing $air+ %ehind the
%ig wheel that was the #a%/s &st $r&inent *eature)))
The #n*ined s$a#e had %een an utterl( &(sterius and $r,
*undl( alien en!irn&ent+ %ut when H(#illa had turned
twards hi& t tell hi& t %e 2uiet she hadn/t needed wrds)
Her e(es had %een un#annil( large and strangel( lu&inus+
%rightl( lit %( &ist re*le#tins e!en thugh the $u$ils had
%een widel( dilated) Her li$s had *r&ed the&sel!es int a
*er#ius snarl+ &a'ing her l!el( *a#e int a hideus #ari#a,
ture)))
There had %een a le!er sti#'ing u$ *r& the *lr * the tru#'
%etween her seat and 7athan/s+ and she had alread( %egun
wren#hing it %a#' and *rth) The tru#'/s engine had rared int
li*e) As sn as the tru#'/s wheels had %egun t turn she had
s$un the steering,wheel+ *r#ing the !ehi#le int a tight ar# that
#arried it awa( t the le*t)))
/Nt s distant+/ Ga!aln &ur&ured) /Reli!e it+ as i* it were
nw)/
H(#illa s$un the wheel again+ sending the tru#' int anther+
entirel( di**erent ar#) She was &a'ing n atte&$t t sti#' t
%etter grund+ and there was nthing !isi%le thrugh the wind,
s#reen %ut the #rwns * %ushes and e-ti# *lwers , a !erita%le
tide * !egetatin that see&ed t hurl itsel* *rward and di!e
dwn %eneath the !ehi#le with re#'less ala#rit()))
There were n &re sldiers t %e seen nw+ %ut the e!iden#e
* their $resen#e was all arund+ in %illws * s&'e and lines
* he#ti# light s#rawled u$n the sur*a#e * the starr( s'()))
/O$en the dr0/ H(#illa s#rea&ed) /8!e !er0/
His hand sht ut *r& his side t gra$$le with the dr,
#at#h) He had ne!er en#untered ne li'e it+ s it re2uired a
*ew se#nds * ine-$ert *u&%ling+ %ut in the end he &anaged
t s$ring the #at#h and hurl the dr $en , and then+ withut
an( $ause *r thught r rein*r#e&ent * the #&&and+ he
&!ed !er int the narrw ga$ %etween the tw seats)))
A hu&an *igure lea$t ut * the nrushing !egetatin t land
sure,*tedl( n the *lr * the tru#'+ ar&s e-tended t #at#h
the side and t$ * the dr *ra&e+ s that a single *luid &!e,
&ent &ight deli!er the slender %d( int the s$a#e that
7athan had #leared)))
H(#illa s$un the wheel (et again+ hurling the tru#' int an
ar# s tight that it #a&e u$ n tw wheels) 7athan was s#ared
that it &ight ti$ !er+ %ut the *ear was insu**i#ient t !erride
his astnish&ent)))
He %e#a&e lst+ then+ as tw di**erent ti&es see&ed t !er,
la$ and &erge+ s that his ld sel* %rie*l( #n*rnted his new
sel*) 7athan was astnished t dis#!er that his ld sel* was
#nte&$lating his new sel* with as &u#h hrrr as astnish,
&ent+ %ut he tld hi&sel* , his new sel*+ * #urse , that his
ld sel* was nl( a %(+ and was nt #a$a%le * understanding
the &an that he had %e#&e+ e!en thugh the $r#ess * &eta,
&r$hsis had ta'en little &re than a da()
Ga!aln/s hand li*ted *r& his shulder+ and 7athan #a&e
%a#' t the $resent with a $e#uliar rush+ as i* he were %eing
thrwn #lear * a !rte- in whi#h hurs and &inutes had &in,
gled with #enturies and &illennia)
7athan l'ed sidewa(s at the &nstrus sr#erer+ and
re#gnised the tran#e,state int whi#h H(dlla had sli$$ed
when she had %een re2uired t $er*r& a tas' that she had n
idea hw t d)
This+ 7athan su$$sed+ was &agi# , and (et the I&$eriu&
had n need * &agi# t $r$el and steer its !ehi#les) The sl,
diers had %een trained t dri!e+ and si&$l( did s) But i* the
$e$le n his side needed &agi# t d what the ene&( *und
si&$le+ what #han#e did the( ha!e in the i&$ending %attle6
/We ha!e Sathrael+/ Ga!aln said+ as i* he had heard the
un!i#ed 2uestin) DWe shall nt ha!e hi& *r lng+ and his
%eha!iur has %een ann(ingl( &er#urial+ %ut he is the 'e( t
e!er(thing)/
The sr#erer/s !i#e sunded strangel( &e#hani#al+ and
7athan wndered whether Ca!aln was a#tuall( awa'e+ e!en
thugh his strange e(es were *i-ed n the grund ahead *
the& , the grund !er whi#h the( were tra!elling at a sur$ris,
ingl( ra$id $a#e)
7athan was sur$rised that he had nt nti#ed the tru#'/s
engine raring int li*e+ let alne the #&&en#e&ent * the
.urne(+ %ut his #urisit( was *urther intrigued %( the *a#t that
Ca!aln had answered a 2uestin that 7athan had nt e!en
!i#ed)
But what is Sathrael+ e-a#tl(6 he wndered+ ta'ing #are t
*r& the 2uestin #learl( in his &ind e!en thugh he did nt
sa( a wrd)
/I wish I 'new &re $re#isel( what Sathrael is+/ Ga!aln
said+ in that sa&e &e#hani#al &anner) /I had e-$e#ted a Lrd
* Change+ %ut I nw sus$e#t that it &a( %e &re than that+
althugh it &a( %e that the lre * the #!ens is de*e#ti!e in its
understanding * what a Lrd * Change is) I had h$ed that it
wuld $r!ide &e with a dae&n *a&iliar+ su#h as *a!urite
#ha&$ins * Chas are said t %e granted t aid their wn
a$$renti#e dae&nhd+ %ut e!en the =essel Ni&ian did nt
#ndu#t hi&sel* as a *a&iliar shuld n#e the ritual was #&,
$lete) I had h$ed t %e allwed t 'nw *ar &re * &(
7i!ine 8aster/s &ind n#e I had %rught his $lan int its *inal
$hase+ %ut it see&s that I was &re ignrant than I 'new+ and
still a&)/
But he , it , will hel$ us t win the %attle+ 7athan thught)
That &u#h has t %e #ertain+ has it nt6 He , it , will &a'e the
I&$eriu& $a( dear *r in!ading ur lands+ and sa!e Gul1a#andra+
will he nt6
/I h$ed that Sathrael wuld &a'e ur !i#tr( #ertain+/
Ga!aln said+ his !i#e %e#&ing slightl( &re distant and
ddl( $lainti!e) /I thught I 'new what strateg( &( 7i!ine
8aster was *llwing+ %ut I a& n lnger s sure) 8u#h had
%een re!ealed t &e in &( drea&s+ %ut still I had the te&erit(
t thin' that what ha$$ened n this wrld+ t &( $e$le+ was
* $ara&unt i&$rtan#e) Perha$s I shuld ha!e realised that
this is %ut the tiniest #&er * a !ast arena+ and that whate!er
ha$$ens here is * s#ant i&$rtan#e+ i* it des nt %ear s&e,
hw u$n the whle) I* I&$erial shi$s are #&ing))) Sathrael
&a( ha!e a higher $ur$se than the sal!atin * Gul1a#andra)/
7athan struggled t &a'e sense * this+ nt !er( su##ess,
*ull() But we are heres+ he re&inded hi&sel*+ and we ha!e
&agi#) The I&$eriu& has guns+ and tru#'s+ %ut I ha!e *a#ed
the& twi#e and , ad&ittedl( with &agi#al aid , ha!e %eaten
the& twi#e) We are heres+ *ighting *r ur h&eland+ and
Ca!aln the Great is a $wer*ul sr#erer) Hw #an the ene&(
$ssi%l( win6
The se#ret * whether the ene&( #an $ssi%l( win &a( %e
the dar'est se#ret * all+/ Ga!aln said+ his snrus !i#e
%e#&ing e!en &re distant and ru&inati!e) /7ar'er than the
se#ret hidden %( the Glden Thrne itsel*) E!er(thing we
'nw and %elie!e+ * #urse+ tells us that the I&$eriu& #annt
$ssi%l( win in the end) In the *ullness * ti&e+ the nl(
$ssi%le !i#tr( is that * Chas) In the *ullness * ti&e+ the
nl( $ssi%le *ate *r hu&an'ind is e-tin#tin) And (et the
I&$eriu& *ights n , and wh 'nws what $ett( !i#tries the(
&ight win in the &eanti&e+ r what the t&e !alue * thse
$ett( !i#tries &ight %e6
/We wh are $rud t %e dwellers in Gul1a#andra and *l,
lwers * the Changer * the Wa(s &ight sa(+ and &ight e!en
%elie!e+ that we are the heres * the eternal struggle , %ut we
'nw in ur hearts that it is nt true+ and that the I&$eriu&
has the &n$l( n heris&) We *ight ut * #hi#e+ dri!en
%( $ride and lust and *ur(+ and e!er(thing we d hastens ur
wn end and the end * ur s$e#ies) The( *ight *r dut(+ dri,
!en nl( %( *aith) The( 'nw that the( #annt win+ %ut the(
*ight n+ deter&ined t sur!i!e *r anther hur+ anther
(ear+ anther #entur())) e!en thugh the( 'nw that the( #an,
nt sur!i!e *re!er) It is the(+ nt us+ wh &aintain the ga&e
and &a'e it wrth the $la(ing) It is the(+ nt us+ wh are the
ga&e)
The ulti&ate triu&$h * Chas+ whi#h lies s *ar in the
*uture as t %e * little #n#ern t shrt,li!ed #reatures su#h as
(u and I+ is a%slutel( #ertain) The ruinatin and destru#tin
* all &an'ind is %ut a tin( $art * that #ul&inatin) The
I&$erial *r#es ha!e nthing t *ight *r %ut a tri!ial $st,
$ne&ent+ and (et the( *ight) The( ha!e &ade their e&$err a
gd+ and are surel( right t d s+ *r i* an(ne less than a gd
#uld e!er deser!e t %e#&e ne+ what ther 'ind * &an
#uld it %e than an e&$err6 The I&$erial *r#es are the
heres+ %e#ause the( ha!e nthing t win %ut a &&entar(
e(e%lin' in the hur * eternit(+ *r the sa'e * whi#h the( ha!e
sa#ri*i#ed e!er( *reed&+ e!er( thught+ e!er( h$e and e!er(
$leasure) The( will ne!er 'nw hw grate*ul &( 7i!ine 8aster
and thse li'e hi& &ust %e *r all their sa#ri*i#es+ r what the
true !alue * their $ett( !i#tries &ust %e)
That+ I a& #n!in#ed+ is the dar'est se#ret * all)/
7athan wuld ha!e li'ed t *eel $ri!ileged t ha!e %een
ad&itted , e!en %( a##ident , t this /dar'est se#ret * all/) Alas+
he #uld nt %egin t *ath& what Ga!aln &eant) E!en the
ele&entar( se#rets * the #ults+ 'nwn t Pater Saltana and
5ana'+ and $erha$s %( nw t H(#illa+ had %een denied t
hi&) And (et+ he nw had the wrd * Ga!aln the Great that
the la#' * an at& * talent was all that had $re!ented hi&
*r& %eing a$$renti#ed t a wi1ard+ thus entering int the s$e,
#ial *a!ur * the gd * Cul1a#andra+ whse na&e was t
&inus e!er t %e s$'en alud)
What an a#hie!e&ent that wuld ha!e %een+ *r his &ther/s
sn0
/And what an a#hie!e&ent it has %een+/ said the entran#ed
Ga!aln the Great+ &re &ildl( than 7athan wuld e!er ha!e
thught $ssi%le) /I ha!e regretted nthing+ n &atter what &(
#areer &a( ha!e #st &e) I wuld nt trade $la#es with an(ne+
n &atter what &( *ate is (et t %e) I ha!e li!ed3 I ha!e #hsen3
I ha!e led) Can an( #&&ander * the I&$eriu& , e!en the
True I&$eriu& , sa( &re6 Can an( dae&n6 There are thse+
I 'nw+ wh %elie!e that the gds whi#h are ser!ed %( &en li'e
&e are #&$unded ut * hu&an e!il+ %ut I #annt %elie!e it)
There was Chas lng %e*re hu&an'ind was drea&ed *+ and
there will %e Chas lng a*ter hu&an'ind is !anished *r& the
uni!ersal stage) Hu&ans wh thin' the&sel!es !ital t the
#ause and #urse * Chas are the !ainest * the !ain3 we li!e
%ut a &&ent and die *re!er+ una%le t en#&$ass in*init(
and eternit( e!en in the a&%itin * the i&aginatin) I ha!e
drea&ed3 I ha!e seen3 I ha!e understd) I* I die t&rrw r
the ne-t da(+ as I li'el( shall+ I ha!e nthing t %egrudge)/
It was at this $int that 7athan realised+ %elatedl(+ that
Ga!aln was nt tal'ing t hi& at all+ %ut nl( t hi&sel*+ and
that the 2uestins he was as'ing were ser!ing as $r&$ts t
Ca!aln/s e-$lratin * his wn interests and intrigues)
7athan saw that he was a &ere ea!esdr$$er n a $ri!ate #n,
!ersatin that he #uld nt h$e t understand+ e!en i* it were
all true) Perha$s it was nt) N &atter hw great a sr#erer
Ga!aln was+ he was nl( hu&an+ &re than #a$a%le *
%elie!ing that he 'new and understd *ar &re than he a#tu,
all( did)
And (et+ 7athan had t su$$se+ there was !alua%le 'nwl,
edge t %e gained here+ i* he #uld nl( $hrase a 2uestin
si&$l( and #are*ull( enugh)
What+ he wndered+ wuld %e#&e * hi&6
/All &en die+/ Ga!aln &ur&ured+ still lst in the #ld de$ths
* his re!erie) /S&e li!e t %e ld+ thers die as %a%es) In a
wrld li'e this+ in a ti&e li'e this+ n ne #an %e sure that he
will sur!i!e the &rrw+ and e!er(ne shuld #ndu#t hi&sel*
a##rdingl() There is n *uture %ut war) There is n h$e %ut
$st$ne&ent * disaster) There is nthing a &an #an d t
hel$ hi&sel* e-#e$t t *ight+ unendingl(+ with e!er( wea$n he
#an #&&and)/
And ha!ing said that+ with the &(riad %anners * his ar&(
alread( *luttering &utel( u$n the hri1n+ Ga!aln suddenl(
sh' hi&sel*+ and #ughed) Then he turned t l' at
7athan+ and said4 /Better wa'e u$ nw+ %() We/re al&st there)
It/s gd that (u/!e sle$t , (u needed the rest) Get (ursel*
washed nw+ and *ed) Then $ra() Ful%ra will surel( %e n us
sn enugh+ and I &ust d what I #an t %ring Sathrael t
the *ield+ in rder that he &ight unleash the wrath * the
Changer * the Wa(s)/
/Can I 'ee$ the ri*le6/ 7athan as'ed+ &ee'l()
/It/s (urs+ %(+/ Ga!aln said+ in a gru** !i#e !er( di**erent
*r& the ne he had used , unwittingl(+ it see&ed , %e*re)
/9urs %( right) 9u/ll %e issued with a&&unitin) Use it
well)/
<
TWENT9
As SOON AS H(#illa had sent the %linded sldier tu&%ling !er
the side * the tru#'+ the !ehi#le/s dri!er sla&&ed the %ra'es n)
I* he had dne it a &inute earlier he &ight ha!e rendered
s&e use*ul assistan#e t his *riend+ %ut he #uld nt ha!e
'nwn hw %adl( the gunner had %een hurt %( the %last *
Ga!aln/s hrn) Althugh he had %een a%le t see H(#illa #lse
in n the gunner %( &eans * his &irrr+ the dri!er &ust als
ha!e seen his #&rade struggle t his *eet) Either he had
thught that the ther &an was #a$a%le * $utting u$ a *ight+
r he had %een a*raid that a sudden st$ wuld #ause his *riend
&re distress than it wuld #ause H(#illa) Nw that the %lind
&an was gne+ thugh+ and H(#illa was ** guard+ the dri!er
&ust ha!e thught that the ti&e had #&e *r hi& t ta'e a
hand)
H(#illa had nt %een standing aw'wardl( when the tru#'
suddenl( de#elerated+ %ut she was thrwn #&$letel( ** %al,
an#e ne!ertheless) Had she %een nl( a *ew in#hes #lser t the
rear end * the gun she &ight ha!e su##eeded in gra%%ing it+
and using its &ass t stead( hersel*+ %ut her gr$ing hand
&issed it %( a whis'er and her &&entu& sent her #annning
int the %a#' wall * the #a%)
Had the #a% %een higher r had she %een nl( as tall as she
had %een &ere hurs %e*re she wuld nl( ha!e %ruised her,
sel*+ %ut as &atters std the %ul' * her &ass was t high t
%e readil( arrested) Her legs were swe$t *r& under her and she
tu&%led *rward+ rlling !er the r* * the #a% and *alling
dwn n the ther side)
Her %a#' hit the hd * the !ehi#le hard+ s$iling her se#,
nd des$erate gra% *r $ur#hase+ and she *ell again+ right in
*rnt * the tru#')
Had the dri!er waited where he was and a##elerated as sn
as he saw her *all *r& the hd he &ight ha!e run her !er+
%rea'ing at least ne * her li&%s+ %ut he had nt waited)
Instead+ he had #hsen t hurl hi&sel* thrugh the dr+ with
a lng %lade in his hand+ read( t run his ene&( thrugh)
And had H(#illa %een nl( hu&an+ she wuld ha!e had lit,
tle strength le*t with whi#h t resist the dri!er/s angr( #harge+
%ut she was *ar &re than hu&an nw , as he shuld ha!e
understd when he had seen her $ursue hi& n *t and
#at#h hi& in s$ite * all his e**rts t $ull awa()
E!en s+ it was a #lse run thing , it was nl( at the last $s,
si%le &&ent that she raised her wn %lade t %l#' the
sldier/s thrust)
The sldier #ursed+ see&ingl( sur$rised that H(#illa had
#ntri!ed t hld n t her wn wea$n while she des#ri%ed
her in!luntar( s&ersault+ r that she had dne s withut
in*li#ting the s&allest #ut u$n hersel*) She &et his $ale %lue
e(es+ lit %( terrr and des$eratin+ and saw hi& *lin#h *r&
her wn ga1e+ as i* her e(es had the $wer t wither hi&) She
was a#hing in e!er( li&%+ and her s$ine was a ri!er * *ire+ %ut
the %urning sensatin was e-hilarating rather than de%ilitat,
ing) Althugh she was dwn n the grund while her
ad!ersar( was standing+ the sldier #uld nt &a'e the &st
* his ad!antage)
He thrust again+ and then again+ %ut H(#illa $arried %th
thrusts with enugh *r#e t &a'e hi& unstead( n his wn
*eet)
Rather than ris' *alling n t$ * her+ the sldier &!ed side,
wa(s t regain his %alan#e+ gi!ing her a &&ent in whi#h t
alter her wn $sitin) She was still n ne 'nee when he
atta#'ed again+ %ut as she %l#'ed his *urth thrust she %r,
rwed a little * the *r#e * his atta#' t $rise hersel* u$right
, and nw she had the ad!antage+ *r she was se!eral in#hes
taller than he was+ and had a #nsidera%l( lnger rea#h)
The I&$erial sldier shuld ha!e %een #n*ident) He was+
a*ter all+ a trained &an+ and H(#illa was (ung as well as
*e&ale , %ut the &an/s e(es tld the real str() He #uld hardl(
%ear t l' at her+ s *right*ul had she %e#&e) Nr was it her
la#' * $rettiness that a$$alled hi&3 he 'new and understd
that she had %een tu#hed and trans*r&ed %( sr#er() He was
a %ra!e &an+ thugh) 8uthing what was $r%a%l( a $ra(er+ he
atta#'ed again+ with all the #urage * a &an wh was *ighting
*r &re than his li*e)
H(#illa had ne!er trained with an( 'ind * wea$n+ %ut she
had $la(ed the sa&e ga&es as 7athan and her ther $eers+ and
it was t her ad!antage nw that it had alwa(s %een the %(s
wh de#ided whi#h ga&es t $la() She had $la(ed at swrd,
*ighting+ with %ran#hes and %r&,handles+ and nw that she
had strength t su$$le&ent her 2ui#'ness * hand and e(e her
re*le-es were gd enugh t #he#' the in#reasingl( des$erate
thrusts * the I&$erial sldier)
Fr three r *ur &inutes H(#illa was #ntent t #he#' hi& ,
and then she t' u$ the te&$ * the *ight+ and went a*ter her
$$nent)
His training had e2ui$$ed hi& with s'ill enugh t *end **
hal* a d1en thrusts+ %ut it had nt granted hi& s'ill enugh t
sa!e his li*e) Althugh she was still a*la&e with $ain+ H(#illa
had the stride+ the rea#h and the dia%li# strength t *inish hi&)
First she slashed his ar&+ rendering hi& una%le t &a'e *ur,
ther use * his wea$n+ and then she sta%%ed u$wards thrugh
his %ell(+ $ushing the %lade thrugh his intestines and li!er t
$un#ture his dia$hrag&)
He died &re swi*tl( than she &ight ha!e h$ed+ and was
#ertainl( un#ns#ius %e*re the #reature that had n#e %een
Ni&ian wal'ed #arelessl( ut * the alien *rest+ $i#'ed his
%d( u$ in tw &assi!e hands+ and %it his head **)
The $attern that H(#illa had *irst seen n Ni&ian/s s'in as a
&ere s'et#h was nw #learl( &ani*est in #lured s#ales and a
#a$e * *eathers) The #reature had wings nw3 the( were *urled
*r the &&ent+ %ut she esti&ated their s$an as thirt( *eet at
least) The( t were %rightl( #lured) The &nster/s hands
and *eet were !ast talned #laws+ %ut its *a#e still held an e#h
* hu&anit( , and was still .ust a%ut re#gnisa%le as
Ni&ian/s , e!en thugh the nse and &uth had %een twisted
and wren#hed t *r& the sha$e * a %ea')
Had she seen su#h a sight tw da(s earlier H(#illa wuld ha!e
%een utterl( aghast+ $erha$s $aral(sed %( terrr+ %ut ha!ing seen
s &an( * the stages * this strange &eta&r$hsis H(#illa *elt
al&st that she was l'ing int the *a#e * a *riend , a *riend
she 'new %etter than an(ne else e!er #uld r wuld+ and wh
#uld $r%a%l( ha!e said the sa&e a%ut her) This $e#uliar
%eing had tu#hed her+ and that tu#h had %een n #asual
salute r #aress) She had %een drawn int its e!lutin) She was
in thrall t it , %ut she did nt *eel li'e a sla!e r a !i#ti&) She
*elt $rud+ as i* she had &re &aster( * her *ate nw than
#uld e!er ha!e %een granted t her *r&er+ lesser sel*)
@(u &ight ha!e hel$ed &e+/ she $inted ut+ as the &nster
#ntinued t &a'e a &eal * the %ld( #r$se)
There was n need+/ it said) The !i#e see&ed t &aterialise
ut * nwhere3 the #reature/s %ea',t,%e was %!iusl( in#a,
$a%le * *r&ing the sa&e si%ilants and $lsi!es as hu&an
li$s+ %ut the wrds were #learl( audi%le and their $rnun#ia,
tin was $er*e#t) Ni&ian had nt %een nearl( as arti#ulate)
H(#illa had nl( t wnder where the dae&n/s new #&,
&and * language had #&e *r& t 'nw the answer+ as i* %(
an ins$ired guess) This was n lnger Ni&ian %ut a Lrd *
Change4 a !er( $wer*ul Lrd * Change) It #uld hear the
thughts * hu&an %eings))) n+ nt hear+ e-a#tl(+ %ut share)
N se#ret was sa*e *r& its $resen#e+ language least * all)
It shared the language * thse it had tu#hed and thse it
had nt+ nt entirel( %ut in *rag&ents) It shared as$e#ts * ea#h
$ersn/s intelle#t+ and ea#h ne/s i&aginatin+ h$e+ an-iet(+
a&%itin) It $ssessed her #&$letel(+ %ut e!en 7athan had
s&ething in reser!e+ and the &inds &re distantl( gli&$sed
and gras$ed had e!en &re3 ne!ertheless+ the su& * all the
dis$arate $arts !er whi#h it had d&inin was nt &erel( a
whle &ind %ut a whle *ar greater than an( &ind) It was a
#ra1( $at#hwr'+ a !ast #n*usin+ %ut it was a &illin &inds
and a single &ind at ne and the sa&e ti&e4 a &ind %e*itting
a dae&n)
H(#illa realised+ as she l'ed int thse %lea' ra$tr/s e(es+
that the dae&n was glad t %e $ssessed * su#h a *ine *rag,
&ented &ind+ and utterl( *as#inated %( the e-tent and
#&$le-it( * its the*ts and %rrwings) The dae&n 'new+ as
it had t+ that it wuld nt li!e lng , %ut that nl( in#reased
the $i2uan#( * its e-$erien#es+ and the $arti#ular *eeling *
$wer it %tained *r& 'nwledge)
There was a sense+ she realised+ in whi#h the dae&n was a
%rute4 a thing * raw $wer whse destru#ti!e $tential was
still unde!el$ed) But there was a sense+ t+ in whi#h it was an
in*ant4 a %eing $ssessed * (uth+ and all the 1est*ul #urisit(
* inn#en#e) She 'new this %e#ause there was a *urther sense
in whi#h she was nw a $an * the dae&n4 nt &erel( an
e-tra li&% %ut an e-tra intelligen#e)
II(#illa leaned %a#' against the radiatr * the tru#'+
e-hausted %( the su& * her $h(si#al and &ental e**rts) The
grille was !er( ht+ %ut the heat did nt see& un#&*rta%le)
Her %d( sa'ed it u$+ and the *ire inside her %urned a little
&re %rightl() She *elt !er( tired+ %ut she was deter&ined nt
t sin' t the grund while the &nster was l'ing dwn at
her) She did nt want t run the slightest ris' * %eing &ista'en
*r anther tths&e &rsel+ &re use as nurish&ent than
as a li!ing %eing)
What shall I #all (u nw6/ she as'ed+ in the h$e * gi!ing
*urther e!iden#e * the *a#t that she was nt *r eating+ /8aster+
r *riend6/
/Sathrael+/ the &nster re$lied)
/Sathrael+/ she re$eated+ &e#hani#all() /Wh ga!e (u the
na&e6 Ca!aln6/
The &nster see&ed t #nsider that 2uestin !er( #are*ull(+
as i* it were a &atter that it needed t get straight in its wn
&ind) H(#illa wndered i* she reall( ught t %e thin'ing *
the #reature as /it/+ r whether it wuld %e &re a$$r$riate t
re!ert t /he/+ %ut she de#ided that it $r%a%l( did nt &atter
&u#h)
/A Lrd * Change re2uires a true na&e+/ the giant tld her+
e!entuall() /I a& a great Lrd * Change4 a !er(+ !er( great Lrd
* Change) The na&e is &ine+ ingrained in e!er( *i%re * &(
%eing)/
@Well+ Sathrael+ Lrd * Change+/ H(#illa said+ *aintl(
a&used %( her wn te&erit(+ (u #ertainl( see& t ha!e
#hanged &e)/
True+> said the &nster+ e#hing her a&use&ent) /B #hange
e!er(thing) That is &( nature+ and &( $ur$se) I #hange) I
#hange &(sel*) ; #hange the wrld) I #hange the ga&e) I a&
#hange) Change #n#entrated3 #hange #r(stalli1ed3 #hange #lar,
i*ied) Than' (u *r as'ing)/
/Wh(6/ she as'ed+ ta'en slightl( a%a#')
/Wh( what6/
/Wh( than' &e *r as'ing6/
/Change #lari*ied) Hw a& I t 'nw &(sel*+ i* n ne as's
the 2uestins6 I #an 'nw e!er(thing that (u 'nw+ e!er(,
thing that an(ne 'nws+ %ut there is s &u#h+ and all s
#n*used) ; shuld li'e t 'nw &(sel* &re #learl() I shall nt
e-ist *r lng+ and there is s &u#h t d) 8a( I **er (u a
ride6/
/A ride6/ H(#illa e#hed+ still t(ing t #at#h u$ with the une-,
$e#ted #urse that the #n!ersatin had ta'en) /In the tru#'+
(u &ean6/
/N) I a& t hea!(+ and it is %est that we ta'e a straighter
#urse than the tru#' #uld *llw in the *rest) On &( shul,
der) 9u #uld lean %a#' u$n &( *urled wing and rest a while)
There &a( nt %e anther #han#e)/
/Where are we ging6/ H(#illa as'ed+ &a'ing n &!e t ste$
int the huge #law that the &nster had e-tended+ in!itingl()
/We are ging t %u&+/ the giant said) /8re glriusl( than
(u #uld e!er ha!e i&agined , &re glriusl( than an(ne
* (ur 'ind #uld e!er ha!e i&agined)/
/7 I ha!e a #hi#e6/ she wanted t 'nw)
/9es) We all ha!e a #hi#e3 that is ur greatest strength and
ur greatest *ll() We $erish %( #hi#e+ glriusl( r inglri,
usl() 9u &a( *ight+ r (u &a( run) 9u &a( *ight the little
*ight+ r the greater *ight) 9u &a( #&e with &e+ r nt) It is
a #hi#e nt &an( ha!e+ and *ewer still wuld want+ %ut (u
&ust &a'e it nw) Ti&e is $ressing+ and I &ust &a'e the &st
* &(sel* when I a& *ll( grwn) Fr that+ I &ust $re$are)/
Sathrael was alread( three ti&es as tall as H(#illa+ wh was
n lnger s&all) She shuddered as she re#ei!ed a sudden %ut
*leeting i&$ressin * the e-tent * the grwing that it had (et
t d)
/Are (u ging t Ga!aln6/ she as'ed) /Are (u ging t hel$
hi& against the I&$erial in!aders6/
/I shall d what I &ust+/ the &nster said , and when it said
it+ H(#illa di!ined that e!en Sathrael did nt 'nw e-a#tl(
what its $ur$se was+ and wuld nt until its identit( was *ull(
re!ealed)
H(#illa ste$$ed *rward int the e&%ra#e * the waiting #law
and allwed Sathrael t $i#' her u$ and $la#e her n its
shulder) When it std ere#t again+ she was well a%!e the
#an$( *r&ed %( the s$urs and tassels e-tending *r& the
#rwns * the #rn #%,li'e $lants) Fr& this !antage the *rest
l'ed !er( di**erent+ rather li'e a *ield * #l!er $ainted and
ena&elled in red+ %la#' and $ur$le+ interru$ted %( e-ti#
weeds li'e twisted #lu&$s * nails and #url( i#i#les) She #uld
see *r &iles , r s it see&ed , and she #uld see the waste,
land %e(nd the *rest/s edge as a %lurred and %%%led
$at#hwr' 2uilt+ in whi#h *ugiti!e greens and (ellws &ingled
with the harsher #lurs) There was nt a tra#e * hu&an ha%i,
tatin+ r * the $lants and ani&als that the *irst hu&ans had
%rught with the& thusands * (ears ag)
/E!er(thing has #hanged+/ she said) /In tw da(s+ &( whle
wrld has %een trn a$art and turned u$side,dwn) I a&
nt what I was) What a& I nw+ SathraelF What ha!e I
%e#&e6/
The dae&n thught a%ut this *r a &&ent as it %egan t
thrust its wa( thrugh the nati!e *liage+ using its &assi!e
hands t $an a wa( *r its lu&$en thighs and aw'wardl(,*urled
wings) E!entuall(+ Sathrael said4 /Fa&iliar) 9u are *a&iliar)/
/9OU see& strangel( *a&iliar (ursel*+/ she said) /But that/s nt
what (u &ean+ is it6/
/9es it is+/ he said) That+ and nl( a little &re) Be glad * it3
(u are &re than (u were r #uld e!er ha!e %e#&e)/
/Be#ause (u wuld ha!e eaten &e %( nw+ i* I weren/t *a&il,
iar6/
That t , %ut %e glad *r what will #&e) It will nl( %e a
&&ent+ %ut it will %e &re than a li*eti&e * &erel( hu&an
e-isten#e)/
H(#illa gt the distin#t i&$ressin that the &nster was tr(,
ing t ruse a gladness in itsel* that it had nt (et learned t
*eel) E!en dae&ns+ it see&ed+ #uld %e an-ius) She wn,
dered whether she ught t hel$ in the &rale,%uilding
e-er#ise+ r #hallenge its *unda&ental assu&$tin) E!entuall(+
she said4 /Frgi!e &e *r sa(ing s+ %ut I/& nt sure (u/re the
%est .udge * the !alue * &erel( hu&an e-isten#e)/
/Wh is6/ Sathrael #untered)
H(#illa had insu**i#ient #n*iden#e t &a'e an( #lai& n her
wn %ehal*) /We are ging t win this %attle+ aren/t we6/ she
said+ instead) /With (u n his side+ Ga!aln has the ad!antage+
has he nt6 We #all the ene&( the I&$eriu&+ %ut the(/re reall(
.ust #astawa(s+ aren/t the(6 The(/!e used u$ al&st all the
wea$ns their *re*athers had) The(/re n &at#h *r the 'ind *
$wer (u #an unleash)/
That re2uired an e!en lnger inter!al * thught) It was
al&st as i* the &nster were rela(ing the &re di**i#ult 2ues,
tins t s&e *urther sur#e)
/Ne!er underesti&ate an ene&(+> the great %east said e!en,
tuall() These sldiers are %ra!e) The( thin' * the&sel!es+
&destl(+ as little &re than a tra!est( * their true I&$erial
*re%ears+ %ut the( are %etter &en than the( #an #redit)
Be#ause the( lst s &u#h+ the( had t learn t i&$r!ise)
The warrirs * the true I&$eriu& are *ine *ighting &en+ %ut
the( are ne!er #alled u$n t understand their wea$ns) The
in!aders * Gul1a#andra ha!e had t lea& s &u#h that the(
ha!e had n alternati!e %ut t su%stitute #le!erness *r *aith)
That has wea'ened the&+ in ne wa(+ %ut it has strengthened
the& in anther) The( d nt 'nw the e-tent t whi#h the(
ha!e laid the&sel!es $en t #rru$tin+ %ut the( shuld nt
%e des$ised) The( are wrth( sa#ri*i#es)/
/Wrth( sa#ri*i#es6/ H(#illa e#hed) /In ther wrds+ (u
intend t 'ill and eat the lt * the&)/
There will nt %e ti&e *r that+/ the &nster re$lied+ a tri,
*le regret*ull() /Ga!aln/s ar&( &ust d its share * 'illing+
and * d(ing) E!er(ne &ust d his $art) And hers)/
The true I&$eriu& is #&ing+ isn/t it6/ H(#illa said+ slwl()
That/s what (u , r Ni&ian , &eant when (u said that (u
wuld %ring shi$s) What ha$$ens in Gul1a#andra desn/t
&atter t (u at all) 9u aren/t here t sa!e us+ are (u6/
That whi#h (u used t #all @us@+/ the #reature tld her+
$ee$ing sidewa(s at her *r& a !ast e(e that see&ed t ha!e
%e#&e e!en &re $redatr( sin#e she had &et it s2uarel( n
the rad+ /is %ut a $ett( legin * the dead and a greater legin
* the dead,t,%e) Nw+ there is nl( &e+ and that whi#h is
*a&iliar t &e)/
H(#illa swallwed hard as she realised what the *ull i&$li,
#atins * this state&ent were , %ut she was nt as distressed
%( it as she &ight ha!e e-$e#ted) There was nl( ne sad
thught that $ri#'ed the !estiges * her #ns#ien#e)
/Is 7athan dead alread(6/ she wanted t 'nw)
This ti&e+ the giant/s res$nse was i&&ediate) /Can (u
e-$e#t &e t #n#ern &(sel* with su#h tri!ia as that6/ it
de&anded) Ti&e is3 ti&e was3 and ti&e will sn %e gne)/
H(#illa saw then that the( had %een &!ing s ra$idl( that
there was s&ething new t %e seen n the hri1n+ *ar
%e(nd the s*t %lan'et * $ur$les+ $in's and glds that la(
%e(nd the *rest/s edge) It was n less gaud( than the *rest
r the $lain+ %ut it was *ar &re *ragile)
It was+ in *a#t+ the wind,*luttered %anners * Ga!aln/s
ar&(+ waiting i&$atientl( *r the des#ent * the *e)
H(#illa rea#hed ut her right hand t tu#h the dae&n/s
enr&us ear+ as tenderl( as an-iet( wuld $er&it)
/Ha!e (u n *ear6/ she as'ed) /Are (u nt hrri*ied %( the
thught * e-tin#tin+ a*ter su#h a %rie* e-isten#e6/
She e-$e#ted an aut&ati#+ i* slightl( insin#ere+ denial) She
did nt 'nw hw wel#&e she wuld ha!e *und su#h a
denial+ until she heard the a#tual answer)
/I a& i&&une t *ear and hrrr+ *r the &&ent+/
Sathrael said+ /.ust as (u are) But when the ti&e #&es ,
and nw that (u ha!e #hsen t unite (ur wise,drea&s
&re *ull( with &ine+ it will #&e t us %th as ne , we
shall 'nw the true &eaning * *ear+ and * hrrr+ and *
death) Until then+ we #an nl( guess) Is it nt *as#inating t
'nw that we shall 'nw , and s !er( sn6/
TWENT9,ONE
7ATHAN WAS ASTONISHE7+ when he aw'e+ t *ind that the tent
was %eing dis&antled arund hi&)
What/s ha$$ening6/ he as'ed , %ut the &en wh were %us(
with the r$es and #an!as ignred hi&) He had t $i#' u$ his
gun and g utside int the %right &rning light in sear#h *
an answer) There he *und that the entire ar&( was &a'ing
read( t &ar#h) He #uld nt see Ga!aln+ %ut A%dal'uri was
near%(+ $la#ing a $a#' n his #lur*ul steed) A%dal'uri treated
7athan with s&e res$e#t nw that he had %een ad&itted int
Ga!aln/s inner #ir#le)
@What/s ha$$ening6/ he as'ed+ again)
/A #hange * $lan+/ the thrall,wi1ard tld hi&) /Ful%ra/s
st$$ed his ad!an#e) We dn/t 'nw wh() He &a( si&$l( %e
resting his &en+ %ut he &ight %e waiting *r s&ething)/
/Rein*r#e&ents6/ 7athan guessed)
/He/d ha!e t wait &nths *r that+ unless the rein*r#e&ents
#an *l(+/ A%dal'uri said+ dril() /He/s $r%a%l( waiting *r his
s#uts t re$rt n ur $sitins)/
/Is that wh( we/re #hanging the&6/
/One reasn) Gi!en that we alread( 'nw their $sitins+
Ga!aln &ight ha!e seen an $$rtunit( t atta#')/
7athan re&e&%ered what Ga!aln had said t hi& in the
tru#') Perha$s the sr#erer had re#ei!ed *urther enlighten&ent
*r& the gd he ser!ed as t what his $art in the un*lding
dra&a was t %e) Perha$s+ n the ther hand+ he was &erel(
#n*used) Perha$s he wasn/t sure that he had ti&e t wait+ e!en
thugh Ful%ra a$$arentl( had) Perha$s Ful%ra had st$$ed
%e#ause he had gt wind * the dae&n/s e-isten#e+ and had a
s#he&e * his wn t #unter its in*luen#e)
At an( rate+ 7athan thught+ Ga!aln/s wn $lans had gne
awr( the &&ent he had lst sight *Ni&ian) The sr#erer was
des$erate nw+ and li'el( t re&ain s)
/Are (u ging t saddle u$6/ A%dal'uri as'ed) /9u wn/t %e
riding in the tru#' this ti&e)/
7athan was sur$rised %( the 2uestin) He hadn/t e-$e#ted t
%e allwed t ride int the %attle in a tru#'+ %ut he hadn/t
e-$e#ted t %e allwed t ride at all)
The hrse I rde %e*re was 'illed %( a stra( sht %a#' at the
*ar&huse+/ he re&inded the wi1ard)
/8alda(a' wn/t %e needing his+/ the ther $inted ut) /He/ll
need t %e #arried int %attle n a litter+ i* he #an ta'e an( $art)
It/s !er there) 7n/t wrr( , it #an sense the dae&n/s tu#h
as well as I #an) It/ll ser!e (u as well as the ther)/
The dae&n/s tu#h0 7athan thught) Is that what I a&+ nw6
S&ething tu#hed %( a dae&n+ set aside *r& all &( *ellw
&en+ sa!e *r initiates * a #ult whse se#rets I was ne!er $er,
&itted t hear6
He 'new+ thugh+ that it was an en!ius $sitin t %e in+
gi!en the #ir#u&stan#es) The #lser he was t Ga!aln and
Ga!aln/s thrall,wi1ards+ the #lser t the heart * the enter,
$rise he wuld %e) He wuld %e n sa*er *r %eing #lse+ and
$r%a%l( 2uite the $$site+ %ut su#h #lseness was a thing t
%e desired in and *r itsel*+ gi!en that he was *atherless , $er,
ha$s &therless t , and all %ut *riendless %esides)
I* he had t g int %attle+ he reasned+ was it nt *ar %etter
t g &unted n a #le!er and de#e$ti!e steed rather than n
*t+ es$e#iall( when he had thughtlessl( &issed a se#nd
$$rtunit( t s#a!enge a %etter $air * %ts *r& a&ng the
$ri1es ta'en at the *ar&huse6
The #lured hrse std &ee'l(+ with its h&ed head
%wed+ while 7athan $la#ed the saddle,#lth n its %a#' and
%u#'led the saddle in $la#e) The stirru$ was .ust as high as it
had %een n $re!ius ##asins+ %ut A%dal'uri &ade a ste$ *r
7athan with his hand %e*re ste$$ing u$ n t his wn
&unt)
/Shall I *llw (u6/ 7athan as'ed+
That wuld %e wise+/ the thrall,wi1ard re$lied+ #al&l() /I &a(
(et %e grate*ul *r the nearness * (ur gun)/
7athan had nt nti#ed %e*re that the thrall,wi1ard see&ed
t ha!e n wea$n * an( 'ind+ %ut while he settled hi&sel* in
his saddle ne * the %east&en %rught A%dal'uri a lng lan#e
with a wad * #lth , $resu&a%l( a *urled %anner , %ehind its
s$earhead)
/And (u+/ the thrall,wi1ard added+ /&ight ha!e #ause t %e
grate*ul *r &( nearness)/
/Is that (ur &agi#6/ 7athan as'ed #uriusl()
/Ca!aln/s &agi#+/ A%dal'uri said+ /whi#h I a& $ri!ileged t
wield n his %ehal*) He has the withering e(e+ * #urse+ as well
as the hrn * agn( and ther tri#'s) 8ine is a &ere standard+
%ut a $tent ne)/
7athan re&e&%ered the %anner he had seen %illwing in the
%ree1e a%!e Ga!aln/s tent when the %east&en had %rught
hi& t the #a&$) It had see&ed an &inus de!i#e e!en then+
althugh he had nt realised that it was &agi#al) I* the na&e
that A%dal'uri had gi!en it signi*ied its $wer+ it &ight %e
interesting t see its &agi# released , alwa(s $r!ided that its
*r#e #uld %e dire#ted awa( *r& Ca!aln/s allies+ entirel(
twards the ene&()
What des (ur %anner d6/ 7athan wanted t 'nw)
/It is a hell*ire standard+/ A%dal'uri tld hi&) /Its $wer is
great , &u#h greater than thse *la&e,thrwers the I&$erial
sldiers had , %ut sn e-hausted) In!alua%le in a s'ir&ish+
less s in a $rtra#ted %attle)/
/But (u %elie!e that the %attle we ha!e t *ight nw , t&r,
rw i* nt tda( , will %e a $rtra#ted ne+/ 7athan said+ t
&a'e sure that he had ta'en the wi1ard/s &eaning)
=er(+/ said A%dal'uri+ s&%rel() /I ha!e a *ew tri#'s * &(
wn , I/ll nt die easil( when the standard de#a(s int a &ere
s$ear) 9u/ll %e in *ar greater danger than I+ unless the dae&n
that has tu#hed (u deigns t $rte#t (u)/
/Is that li'el(6/ 7athan wanted t 'nw)
/Hw wuld I 'nw6/ was the nl( answer he gt+ as
A%dal'uri sh' the reins and urged his &unt int &tin)
7athan had nl( t tu#h the ne#' * his wn ani&al3 it
see&ed t 'nw its %usiness at least as well as he did) It *ell
int ste$ %ehind the ther hrse+ and the #lu&n was sn
.ined %( ther riders+ arranged tw r three a%reast)
As 7athan rde thrugh the %us( ran's he was a%le t get a
*ar %etter idea * the si1e and nature * Gul1a#andra/s ar&()
Be#ause he had seen s &an( %east&en and stig&ati1ed wi1,
ards in Ga!aln/s enturage he had *r&ed the i&$ressin that
the &a.rit( * its sldiers &ust %e nl( hal*, r three,2uarters,
hu&an+ %ut nw he saw that his *irst i&$ressin had %een
&isleading) B( *ar the &a.rit( * his *ellws were as rdinar(
as he , &re s+ i* the e**e#ts * Ni&ian/s tu#h were as %!i,
us t e!er(ne else as the( were t A%dal'uri and the
de#rated hrse)
Nne * the &en had uni*r&s li'e thse the I&$erial sl,
diers wre+ unless the !i!id li!er( * Ga!aln/s thrall,wi1ards
#uld %e #unted as su#h) These *ighters still wre the #stu&es
* #i!ilian li*e4 la%urers wh tiled in the *ields3 hus%and&en
wh 'e$t herds * li!est#'3 the !aried rai&ent * #ar$enters
and s&iths+ wea!ers and that#hers+ #ha$&en and #%%lers)
Onl( $erha$s ne in ten was $ri!ileged+ as 7athan was+ t #an(
a gun+ and s&e * thse guns had %!iusl( &ade their wa(
t Gul1a#andra lng %e*re the #urrent in!asin , $erha$s *i*t(
r a hundred (ears %e*re) Thse wh had neither guns nr
&agi# &stl( #arried swrds and hal*,$i'es , gd wea$ns+
s *ar as 7athan #uld tell+ a$$l(ing the standards set %( his
!illage+ %ut unli'el( t %e a &at#h *r the I&$eriu&/s *ire$wer
unless the &en wielding the& #uld a#tuall( get a&ng the
ene&(+ t *ight !irtuall( hand,t,hand)
He #uld nt see the tru#'s that he had hel$ed t #a$ture+
%ut that was nt sur$rising) 7athan 'new that e!en i* the( had
&anaged t sal!age the tru#'s le*t %ehind a*ter the &assa#re at
the water,hle+ the ar&(/s ttal st#' * !ehi#les was unli'el( t
%e &re than a d1en) Hwe!er &an( there were+ the( had
alread( %een &!ed ut)
8st * the &en n *t wh glan#ed in the dire#tin * the
riders as the( $assed %( did nt let their glan#es linger lng u$n
the *urled standards and their &ulti#lured %earers+ %ut a *ew
ga1es whi#h did settle n the an&alus *igure * 7athan al&st
hardened int #urius stares) 7athan #uld nt see anther $er,
sn as (ung as hi&sel*+ althugh there &ight ha!e %een a *ew
hidden %( the nearer #rwds) An(ne (unger was $resu&a%l(
dee&ed a #hild+ unread( *r the rle * $rte#tr * the land ,
%ut their turn t *ight wuld surel( #&e+ in a (ear r tw)
E!er(ne see&ed t thin' * the #&ing %attle as the %attle+
the #ru#ial ne that wuld deter&ine the *ate * Gul1a#andra
n#e and *r all) Perha$s it wuld %e , %ut whate!er its ut,
#&e+ 7athan thught+ da( wuld *llw night again and
again and again+ as it alwa(s had) Whe!er wn the %attle+ r
sur!i!ed it+ wuld ha!e t *ight anther da(+ and anther+ and
anther) While there were $e$le in the wrld the war wuld
g n+ e!er( settle&ent a re&te $relude t a new re%ellin r
a new #n2uest) The I&$eriu& wuld ne!er eradi#ate the *l,
lwers * the true gd while the stars swa& in the s'(+ and the
*llwers * the true gd #uld win n *inal !i#tr( either while
the $ssi%ilit( re&ained that &re shi$s wuld #&e %earing
&re I&$erial #lnists)
In the lng run)))
7athan 'new that he wuld nt %e arund in the lng run)
Nr wuld an( &an here+ whether he sur!i!ed the i&$ending
%attle r nt) An( di**eren#e he r the( &ight &a'e was a te&,
$rar( a**air , %ut what &an+ in what wrld+ #uld e!er sa(
an(thing di**erent6 What di**eren#e #uld the &ightiest sr,
#erer r the greatest #&&ander &a'e+ e!en t a single
#ntinent * a single wrld6
7athan shi!ered as these thughts t' hld * hi& , %ut he
'new that the( were his thughts+ %rn * his *ears and #al#u,
latins) He had %een tu#hed %( a dae&n+ %ut he was still the
&aster * his wn &ind) I* he had ne!er en#untered thughts
li'e these %e*re+ it was nt %e#ause he had %een in#a$a%le *
*r&ulating the&+ %ut %e#ause there had %een n ne#essit( t
d s)
The ne#essit( was u$n hi& nw) He was ging int %attle+
and wuld $r%a%l( %e 'illed) He wuld ha!e n ther #han#e
t interrgate the &eaning * his *ate , and that+ t+ was the
wr' * a &an) He was a warrir nw+ and a %ra!e ne+ %ut a
true warrir had t %e &re than a &ere 'iller) He had t 'nw
what his %ra!er(+ and his li'el( sa#ri*i#e+ &ight signi*()
He did nt du%t that lerius Ful%ra/s &en were a%ut the
sa&e %usiness+ %ut he #uld nt 'nw hw di**erentl( the( saw
their wn situatin+ r what resur#es the( had *r &a'ing
sense * it)
In the end , as Ca!aln the Great had tld hi&+ withut
2uite &eaning t , Chas wuld win) The nl( true heres
were thse wh *ught t $st$ne the &&ent * its !i#tr(+
whi#he!er gd the( ser!ed) There was nthing *r an( &an t
*ight *r %ut a narrw &argin , a little &re li*e than he &ight
therwise ha!e+ whether it %e &easured in (ears r hurs r
&inutes , %ut a real &an+ trul( hu&an as well as trul( %ra!e+
als had t #nsider the 2uestin * hw %est t use that &ar,
gin)
/Well+/ said 7athan+ althugh there was n ne %ut his un#ar,
ing steed t hear+ /i* that/s the #ase+ we are all heres+ n &atter
whi#h side we are n+ s lng as we *ight instead * l(ing dwn)
I* the dae&n #&es t sa!e &e+ all well and gd) I* nt))) I
ha!e a gun) I a& &re *rtunate than I #uld e!er ha!e
drea&ed * %eing when I was a &asterless %() I ha!e a gun)/
The #a!alr( #lu&n had $assed %e(nd the li&its * the
#a&$ nw+ and was &a'ing its wa( a#rss the $lain) The red
%ushes and $ur$le #a#ti t either side * their $ath+ thugh nt
!er( nu&erus+ grew tall enugh t l& !er the&+ #asting
lng s'eletal shadws where!er the( e#li$sed the still,rising
sun , %ut the shadws did nt see& undul( dar' r #ld)
The( had %een riding nrth *r tw hurs withut %rea'ing
int a trt when 7athan saw a d1en ther riders a$$ra#hing
*r& the nrth,east) He re#gnised Ga!aln at their head) Li'e
A%dal'uri+ Ga!aln was #arr(ing a lan#e+ %ut his was larger
than an(ne else/s and the withered e(e %anner *urled a%ut its
head was a %ul'ier &ass than an( /&ere standard/) 7athan
realised that the sr#erer &ust %e i&&ensel( strng+ althugh
the strength in 2uestin was surel( nt the $rdu#t * hard
la%ur and a health( diet)
He wndered+ %rie*l(+ hw ld the sr#erer was) He 'new
that the &utatins * Ga!aln/s *r& &ust ha!e %s#ured the
usual signs * ageing+ %ut it was i&$ssi%le t thin' * a &an
* his sn as !er( (ung r !er( an#ient) He wndered+ t+ i*
Ca!aln had *athered an( #hildren , and what had %e#&e *
the&+ i* s) That was an ddl( dis#&*iting 2uestin+ whse
answer he suddenl( did nt want t 'nw)
/Hld and dis&unt+/ Ga!aln rdered A%dal'uri) /We &ust
wait here *r su$$rt+ where the #!er is dense enugh t 'ee$
us hidden *r& $r(ing e(es) The(/re %us( #learing the land
arund their $resent #a&$ t &a'e sure that there/s n eas(
a$$ra#h+ whi#h suggests that the( dn/t intend t &!e n
tda() The(/!e #hsen their grund well enugh+ %ut the( ha!e
'e$t s #are*ull( t the rad that the(/ll %e aw'wardl( strung
ut *r hurs (et+ and it will li'el( suit us e!en %etter than it
suits the&) The( ha!e *r&ed a wide ar# t &a'e sure we #an,
nt ut*lan' the&+ %ut that lea!es the& &re !ulnera%le t a
*rntal assault) I* we #an &!e enugh &en *rward 2ui#'l(
enugh+ we &ight sur$rise the&)/
A%dal'uri %wed his head in a#'nwledge&ent+ %ut his
!i#e was a$$rehensi!e as he said4 /It will ta'e all a*ternn t
&!e the &en and rganise a *r&atin+ &agister) The &en
will %e tired)/
/And the I&$erial sldiers will get wind * ur $resen#e
sn enugh+/ Ga!aln agreed+ /%ut the(/re in &rtal dread *
ur &agi#+ i* nt ur *ire$wer+ and a night atta#' &ight wr'
&re t ur ad!antage than the(/d e-$e#t) The(/re still %eing
harried *r& the rear+ and the( #an/t 'nw *r sure hw *ew
the sni$ers are) The *aster we #an &!e+ the %etter ur #han#es
are) We &ust wait and see hw 2ui#'l( and hw s'il*ull( ur
*r#es #an %e asse&%led+ %ut i* we dn/t start the *ight ur,
sel!es this e!ening+ the ene&( will ha!e the $$rtunit( t
$i#' their wn ti&e)/
A%dal'uri %wed again)
7athan dis&unted when he saw the ther riders d s+ and
l'ed *r a $la#e t tether his hrse) The surrunding $lants
were un*a&iliar t hi&+ %ut the thrall,wi1ard hel$ed hi& (et
again)
/Hw d (u *eel+ 7athan6/ Ga!aln as'ed+ when he t had
dis&unted)
7athan 'new that the sr#erer was nt interested in the state
* his health) He was %eing 'e$t s #lse %e#ause he had %een
tu#hed %( the dae&n+ and Ga!aln h$ed that he &ight
s&ehw %e a%le t $r!ide news * the dae&n/s $sitin
and #nditin)
T dn/t *eel an(thing+/ 7athan re$rted+ relu#tantl() /I*
Ni&ian/s near%(+ I #an/t tell)/
/It/s nt Ni&ian an( &re+/ Ga!aln tld hi&) /At least+ I
h$e nt) We &ight ha!e t atta#' regardless , (u d under,
stand that6/
7athan was ta'en a%a#' *r a &&ent+ %ut then realised that
Ca!aln &ust %e h$ing that e!en i* 7athan #uld nt %ring
news+ he &ight still %e a%le t trans&it it) The lng e-$lanatin
Ga!aln had gi!en A%dal'uri had %een &re *r his %ene*it
than the thrall,wi1ard/s)
/G understand+> 7athan said) /I*Ni&ian , r whate!er he nw
is , 'nws what I 'nw+ he 'nws that he/s needed urgentl()/
Ga!aln ndded his terri%le head+ and turned awa()
I* Ni&ian 'nws what I 'nw+ 7athan thught+ then he
'nws *ar &re a%ut &e than I/d #are *r an( &an r w&an
t 'nw) I su$$se I &ust h$e that he nl( #ares a%ut the
%attle and the war+ and nt a%ut &( dee$est h$es and *ears)
With that+ he sat dwn in the shadw * a huge s$in( $lant+
li'e a rlled,u$ hedgehg that had ta'en rt) He tried t
$urge his &ind * ail see&ingl(,dangerus thughts)
Un*rtunatel(+ the &re he dwelt n the $r%le& * what
thughts &ight %e dangerus+ the &re #rwded his &ind
%e#a&e with thughts * $tentiall( dangerus 'inds)
/; $ra( that H(#illa %e 'e$t sa*e+/ he said t hi&sel*+ as sn
as he settled u$n it as a thught that as nt &erel( sa*e %ut
sin#ere) /Whate!er ha$$ens t &e+ I $ra( that H(#illa &a( %e
s$ared) Grant &e that+ i* nthing else+ h &(sterius gd *
Cul1a#andra+ whse na&e I ha!e ne!er %een $er&itted t
'nw)/
TWENT9,TWO
ORI)OC 8ELCARTH WAS &ildl( dis$leased t dis#!er that Ragan
Bal%erith see&ed &re #&*rta%le a%ard the air#ra*t than he
had e!er %een while standing n the %al#n( * the g!ernr/s
a$art&ent in Sstenut) E!en s+ the Chie* In2uisitr didn/t
a$$ear t %e in the least in#lined t l' ut * the windw)
Nr did the $s('er he had %rught with hi& , %ut $s('ers
alwa(s see&ed t %e n the !erge * h(steria+ s it was $ssi%le
that the *a#t that he was al*t in an air#ra*t wasn/t &a'ing &u#h
di**eren#e) The $riest+ Carr Al$alha+ ga!e the i&$ressin that
he wuld ha!e %een #&*rta%le i* he hadn/t had the $s('er
%eside hi&)
The three &e&%ers * Bal%erith/s $art( were huddled
tgether in the rear $art * the &ain #a%in+ 'ee$ing as &u#h
distan#e as the( #uld %etween the&sel!es and 8el#arth/s
enturage , an arrange&ent whi#h suited %th gru$s)
8el#arth/s aides and %d(guards als see&ed t ha!e %een
e-$erien#ing s&e $r%le&s+ althugh the( were slee$ing in
shi*ts and were *resher than an( * thse wh had %een awa'e
thrughut the .urne() 8el#arth assu&ed that the guards,
&en/s ner!es had &re t d with the $resen#e * 7eir A.a
than the distan#e se$arating the& *r& the grund , r+ *r the
&&ent+ *r& the #ean)
The air#ra*t had nt *lwn in a &ini&al ar# *r& 5ala1endra
t 9e!el'ana3 it had %een ne#essar( t ta'e a slightl( #r'ed
$ath in rder t re*uel at the %ase n "enda&ra/s western&st
#a$e) Frtunatel(+ there was n need t stra( as *ar nrth as
Bul1a!ara3 n#e the( had #rssed the nrthern #ast *
9e!el'ana the( wuld %e a%le t #rss the #entral desert at its
narrwest rather thah s'irting it as Ful%ra had %een *r#ed t
d) The( wuld arri!e in the Gul1a#andran wastelands with
enugh *uel le*t t #arr( the& t the airstri$ that Ful%ra/s engi,
neers shuld ha!e #leared %( nw+ $erha$s $assing dire#tl(
!er the $la#e where O$eratin Pr%e had run int tru%le)
8a.r,General =r#h e&itted an audi%le sigh * relie* when
Te#h&aster Sauldrn re$rted that the( were #rssing the #ast
* 9e!el'ana) 8el#arth #uld nt see that it &ade &u#h di**er,
en#e , indeed+ i* the air#ra*t were t let the& dwn+ the( wuld
$resu&a%l( *all &re gentl( n water than n land+ and the
A&%er Waste had the re$utatin * %eing an e-#eedingl(
inhs$ita%le $la#e) The s$e#tra * ther $e$le/s *ears ne!er
#eased t astnish hi&)
Al&st as sn as =r#h had %een reassured+ thugh+ the
general/s e(es %egan r!ing (et again+ in an agitated *ashin)
/Is it sa*e t ha!e that &an a%ard6/ he &uttered)
That &an was+ * #urse+ 7eir A.a) 8el#arth understd
that 'ind * a$$rehensin &u#h %etter than a *ear * heights r
*l(ing) Ps('ers were authenti#all( s#ar( , and while a $s('er in
a su%terranean #ell was dis#&*iting enugh+ a $s('er in an air,
#ra*t was s&ething else entirel(+ and the *a#t that Al$alha
was %!iusl( in s&e distress was %und t a&$li*( the an-,
ieties * 8el#arth/s #&$anins)
8el#arth was nt entirel( i&&une t su#h an-ieties+ %ut he
was $re$ared t li!e with the& in e-#hange *r the $$rtuni,
ties that Bal%erith/s insisten#e n :ining the e-$editin had
$ened u$) He had n intentin * starting tru%le while the
air#ra*t was in *light+ %ut he was #n!in#ed that n#e it had set
its wheels dwn n alien sil+ ridding hi&sel* * Bal%erith
wuld %e easier than he had e!er dared t h$e)
The air#ra*t/s $ilt+ :al 8%erg+ had %.e#ted t the idea *
#arr(ing a $s('er+ and the !- $eratr wh shared his ##'$it
had als see&ed distin#tl( dis#&*ited+ %ut %th &en had
s$ent their li!es in $re$aratin *r a *light li'e this+ and the(
had %een easil( $ersuaded that the ris' was &ini&al) Bth
#rew&en had *lwn a d1en ti&es %e*re+ *ten with 8el#arth
a%ard+ %ut all thse *lights had %een %rie* training e-er#ises)
This was the real thing) This was what the $lane had %een
designed and %uilt *r+ %( thse &(sterius and gdli'e te#h,
$riests wh had &anned the starshi$s * the great I&$eriu& *
8an'ind) This was what 8%erg+ in $arti#ular+ had %een l',
ing+> *rward t e!er sin#e he was *a!ured with the ran' *
$ilt)
/Hw sn will we %e there6/ 8el#arth as'ed Te#h&aster
Sauldrn)
The te#h&aster #nsulted his ti&e$ie#e+ and &ade a shw *
ela%rate #al#ulatin) /A%ut *ur hurs+ e-#ellen#(+ i* all ges
well+/ he *inall( re$lied) T* ur #harts are a##urate+ we/ll %e !er
the A&%er Waste *r three hurs+ then we/ll redu#e ur airs$eed
and des#end t a lwer altitude as we &!e a#rss the
Gul1a#andran %rder) We/ll ha!e t re*uel %e*re underta'ing
an( a#tual re#nnaissan#e+ %ut Ful%ra/s &en shuld ha!e e!er(,
thing read( *r us , the(/!e had $lent( * ti&e)/ He didn/t
sund entirel( #ertain)
/Is there an( reasn wh( things shuldn/t g well6/ 8el#arth
as'ed hi&)
/Well+ n sire , e-#e$t that Gul1a#andra is a natin * sr#er,
ers)/
/AGH * wh&+ i* ur intelligen#e #an %e trusted+ ha!e .ined
Ca!aln the s,#alled Great in the wasteland+ #nser!ing all
their resur#es *r the i&$ending %attle against Ful%ra/s *r#es)
E!en i* there were a *ew &align &agi#ians le*t in the deserts+
hw #uld the( $ssi%l( %ring dwn the $lane6 It/s an riginal+
nt s&ething (ur s,#alled #ra*ts&en 'n#'ed u$ in ne *
(ur s,#alled *a#tries)/
The te#h&aster win#ed at that)
S *ar as 8el#arth 'new+ there was n su#h ran' as /te#h&as,
ter in the True I&$eriu&/s Ade$tus 8e#hani#us+ %ut the True
I&$eriu&/s Ade$tus 8e#hani#us e&$l(ed whle wrlds as
*a#tries+ and were in *ull $ssessin * all the 'nwledge and
ritual re2uired t $rdu#e an in*inite su$$l( * what he and his
$e$le were nw re2uired t #all /riginals/) Un*rtunatel(+ the
Ade$tus 8e#hani#us had %een s drasti#all( under,re$resented
a&ng the #astawa(s+ and s direl( under,resur#ed+ that
su%se2uent generatins had %een *r#ed t #reate an entire
#lass * i&$r!isers+ with their wn in!ented titles+ whse $r,
du#e was ntriusl( shdd() In 8el#arth/s !iew+ a te#h&aster
ught t %e e-#eedingl( grate*ul *r an( $$rtunit( t tra!el
sa*el(+ #&*rta%l( and ra$idl( in an authenti# riginal rather
than %eing #nde&ned t #rawl alng the sur*a#e at a snail/s
$a#e in a !ariet( * &a#hines &anu*a#tured %( his wn ine$t
'ind)
/9es+ e-#ellen#(+ * #urse+/ Sauldrn said+ wea'l() /But sr#er(
is sr#er(+ and wh 'nws what its &asters are #a$a%le *6/
/We 'nw that the(/re nt #a$a%le * standing u$ t I&$erial
*ire$wer and I&$erial reslutin+/ 8el#arth tld hi&) /Isn/t
that s+ =r#h6/
/9es+ e-#ellen#(+/ =r#h was 2ui#' t sa() /All $raise t the
E&$err 8agni*i#ent , %ut e!en s+ sire+ this has %een a !er(
lng *light+ and %( the ti&e we arri!e at Ful%ra/s $sitin we/ll
ha!e $re#ius little *uel le*t , and there/s the $r%le& * land,
ing) We ha!e t %ear in &ind+ e-#ellen#(+ that althugh this is
an riginal it/s a !er( ld riginal) It/s %een tw hundred (ears
sin#e ur *re*athers arri!ed here) And hw &u#h real e-$eri,
en#e #an the $ilt ha!e had+ gi!en that the #ra*t/s hardl( %een
u$ in the air *r &re than an hur at a ti&e *r generatins+
And then)))/
That/s 2uite enugh+ =r#h+/ 8el#arth %r'e in+ disgustedl()
/8%erg+ did (u hear all that6/
/9es+ e-#ellen#(+/ the $ilt re$lied)
/Is this #ra*t #a$a%le * *l(ing lng distan#es6 Are (u #a$a%le
* landing it sa*el(6/
/9es+ e-#ellen#(+/ 8%erg re$lied+ duti*ull() /Alwa(s $r!ided+
sire+ that General Ful%ra/s engineers ha!e $re$ared the landing,
stri$ $r$erl(+ and that)))/
/Oh+ %e 2uiet0/ 8el#arth #&&anded+ sternl() /Is there n
ne here wh has *aith in I&$erial wr'&anshi$6/
/Indeed there is+/ $ut in a new !i#e+ slightl( s$i#ed with
irn() /I a& delighted t hear the 2uestin n (ur lrdshi$/s
li$s)/ It was+ * #urse+ Bal%erith+ wh had #re$t *rward in the
stealth( &anner t($i#al * an in2uisitr) Fr n#e , and+ he
h$ed+ *r the last ti&e , 8el#arth was al&st glad t see hi&
near%()
/Chie* In2uisitr+/ 8el#arth said+ resisting the te&$tatin t
e&$l( a na'edl( sar#asti# tne) /Hw 'ind * (u t .in us)
Are (ur $e$le as i&$atient as &ine t rea#h the %attle*ield
where the *ate * the wrld will %e de#ided6/
/We #ertainl( are+ e-#ellen#(+/ Bal%erith re$lied , and he
sunded entirel( sin#ere+ t 8el#arth/s ear) @We are as eager as
(u are t see the &atter settled+ and t $la( ur $an) 7eir A.a
is read(+ and I *eel #n*ident that $r-i&it( t s &an( e!il
&agi#ians is e-a#tl( what he needs t s$ur hi& n t the *inal
%rea'thrugh) I a& #n!in#ed that %e*re the da( is ut+ #n,
ta#t with the I&$erial Fleet will %e *ir&l( esta%lished) The( will
'nw * ur need+ and the( will send hel$)/
/9u wn/t let hi& d an(thing while we/re still u$ in the air+
will (u) Chie* In2uisitr6/ said =r#h+ wh see&ed al&st
read( t $ani# i* he did nt re#ei!e a reassuring answer)
/O* #urse nt+/ Bal%erith re$lied) /Li'e the hereti# ene&(
wi1ards+ he is harding his strength , %ut n#e we are n the
grund+ and the %attle is .ined+ the &&ent will %e $r$i,
tius) Fear nt+ &a.r,general) We will nt *ail (u) It has %een
a !er( lng da(+ %ut nw that e!ening is u$n us we &a( anti#,
i$ate an e2uall( lng night)/
Stri#tl( s$ea'ing+ that was nt true) The reasn the da( had
see&ed s unnaturall( $rtra#ted was that the air#ra*t had
%een heading west+ awa( *r& the rising sun) Gi!en that the(
had %een air%rne *r &re than eight hurs+ and had less than
three t g+ the i&$ending night #uld nt %e e-tended t the
sa&e e-tent as the da( had %een)
The &&ent will indeed %e $r$itius+/ 8el#arth &ur,
&ured) /But I wnder whether (ur $s('er &ight nt %e %etter
e&$l(ed in lending assistan#e t General Ful%ra+ hel$ing t
#unter the !ile e**e#ts * ene&( &agi#) He has the $s('ers and
in2uisitrs (u assigned t hi&+ * #urse+ %ut I wnder
whether it was reall( wise , r duti*ul , t reser!e (ur &st
$wer*ul instru&ent *r (ur wn $ur$ses6/
/8( wn $ur$ses0/ Bal%erith re$eated+ *eigning sh#')
What higher r &re duti*ul $ur$se #uld there $ssi%l( %e
than t restre #nta#t with the I&$erial Fleet6/
/Nne at all+ i* it were $ssi%le+/ 8el#arth said) /But #an we
reall( a**rd su#h re#'less h$es when there is su#h an %!ius
ene&( #lse at hand6 Is nt ur *irst dut( t #rush this Ga!aln
*ellw and the #ults at whse head he stands+ then t $urge
Cul1a#andra * the taint * hideus e!il6 Wuld the di!ine
E&$err *rgi!e us i* we were less than whll( su##ess*ul in
#leaning ur wn huse %e#ause we (earned s &u#h t %e
reunited with ur distant #usins6/
/Culd we e!er *rgi!e ursel!es+> Bal%erith #untered+ /i* we
were t sa#ri*i#e a n#e,in,a,li*eti&e #han#e t &a'e #nta#t
with the greater I&$eriu&6 Besides)))/
Bal%erith was interru$ted %( the !- $eratr) /8essages
in#&ing+ sire+/ he said t 8el#arth) @We/!e .ust #&e within
range * General Ful%ra/s *ield,trans&itter) He/s within a *ew
hurs/ &ar#h * what a$$ears t %e the ene&(/s &ain #ntin,
gent %ut he/s waiting *r the air#ra*t %e*re $ressing *rward
an( *urther) He/s &ade #a&$ *r the night) Aerial re#nnais,
san#e a*ter dawn t&rrw will gi!e hi& a &u#h %etter $i#ture
* the ene&(/s dis$sitin than his &tr#(#le s#uts , %ut it
a$$ears at $resent that he has an !erwhel&ing su$eririt( *
ar&s and ar&ur)/
/E-#ellent+/ said 8el#arth)
What news is there * O$eratin Pr%e6/ Bal%erith $ut in)
/Has he *und ut wh( it went wrng6/
The !- $eratr returned t his a$$aratus *r a *ew &inutes+
while 8el#arth waited i&$atientl()
The in!estigatrs sent ut *r& Odienne en#untered su%,
stantial ene&( *r#es+/ the !- $eratr re$rted+ e!entuall()
The( sent %a#' wrd 2ui#'l( enugh that the *irst e-$editin
had %een atta#'ed at a water,hle in the wasteland+ a$$arentl(
%( &eans * *ul sr#er(+ %ut that s&e tru#'s a$$eared t ha!e
gt awa() The( were *llwing the trail * the es#a$ers when
the( t were atta#'ed+ and the nl( &essage the( were a%le t
trans&it %e*re #nta#t was lst was gar%led , s&ething
a%ut &en in %rightl(,#lured #stu&es riding #lured
hrses with hrns) I* we want t 'ee$ that su$$l(,rute+
Odienne will ha!e t %e rein*r#ed sn)/
There was a &&ent/s silen#e a*ter this s$ee#h ended+ %r'en
%( =r#h) /It nw see&s t &e+/ the &a.r,general said+ /that
General Ful%ra &ade a serius ta#ti#al errr in sending su#h a
s&all *r#e dire#tl( a#rss the A&%er Waste+ and then s$litting
it twi#e &re)/
Were Ful%ra t %e *und in an( wa( negligent+ =r#h wuld
%e ne-t in line t ta'e his $la#e as su$re&e #&&ander+ s
8el#arth #uld nt #nsider this an un%iased .udg&ent)
The real issue at sta'e+/ Bal%erith was 2ui#' t $int ut+ /is
that &( $s('er was %!iusl( #rre#t in his identi*i#atin * the
wasteland west * Odienne as a signi*i#ant l#atin) Whate!er
is ging n there+ it/s s&ething the #ultists are des$erate t
hide) The(/re nt re#'less enugh t de$l( $wer*ul &agi#
against s#uting $arties unless there/s s&ething the( dn/t
want the s#uting $arties t *ind)/
That wuld %e a sund dedu#tin i* the s#u& we/re *a#ing
were strategists li'e us+/ 8el#arth said+ $ensi!el(+ /%ut the(/re
sla!es * ruin+ as &ad as the( are e!il) We #an/t %e sure that their
&ti!es and ta#ti#s &a'e sense)/
/E!en i* the( are strategists+/ =r#h $ut in+ /this &ight %e a
$l( , s&ething t distra#t ur attentin *r& the &ain
threat)/
/Or *r& the &ain $$rtunit(+/ Bal%erith added) /I* Ga!aln
'nws that the I&$erial Fleet is near%(+ he &ight ris' e!er(,
thing , e!en sa#ri*i#e e!er(thing , t $re!ent us *r& restring
#nta#t with the greater I&$eriu&) He &ust 'nw that his !ile
'ind &ight ha!e a #han#e * sur!i!al+ e!en i* the %attle against
Ful%ra is lst+ $r!ided that the *r#es * the greater I&$eriu&
#annt inter!ene)/
/We are the I&$eriu& here+/ 8el#arth said+ sternl() /We &ust
d e!er(thing hu&anl( $ssi%le t win this war with ur wn
resur#es+ and then t s#ur this #ntinent #lean) This is ur
wrld+ and we are the nes wh &ust rule and de*end it)/
Bal%erith %!iusl( did nt want t #ntinue the argu&ent)
/I &ust tr( t get s&e slee$+/ he said) @9u were wise t let (ur
%d(guards rest+ e-#ellen#( , we ha!e %een awa'e t lng) I
&a( nt get anther #han#e)/
It was a reasna%le %ser!atin+ %ut 8el#arth was i&&edi,
atel( sus$i#ius) 7es he intend t tr( s&ething6 he
wndered) He wuld %e &ad+ gi!en that he is s hea!il( ut,
nu&%ered+ %ut he is here *r a reasn+ and nt t #&&it
sui#ide)
/Perha$s we shuld ta'e the $$rtunit( t #lse ur e(es
nw that night is *alling+/ was all he said alud) /We shall %e
&re use t the general i* we arri!e re*reshed)/
=r#h see&ed grate*ul *r the $er&issin+ and s did
Sauldrn , %ut 8el#arth nl( $retended t rela-) He let
hi&sel* sag in his seat s that his head was resting sidewa(s
, a $sitin *r& whi#h he #uld $en his e(e !er( slightl(
and see nt nl( Bal%erith %ut %th * Bal%erith/s
#&$anins)
A.a and Al$alha %th see&ed t ha!e ta'en Bal%erith/s
ad!i#e , %ut the *a#t that Bal%erith had #&e *rward t **er
it see&ed dee$l( sus$i#ius t 8el#arth)
He/s ging t let the $s('er tr( s&ething+ 8el#arth thught)
Irres$e#ti!e * the ris'+ the te#h,$riest/s sli$$ed the &ad&an a
dse * that !ile drug while Bal%erith was distra#ting ur atten,
tin) But wh(6 7es he thin' that it &ight %e easier t #nta#t
the Fleet *r& a high altitude6
Thrugh lids that were nt 2uite #lsed 8el#arth studied
7eir A.a !er( #are*ull() He #uld nt %elie!e that the $s('er
was aslee$+ %ut i* he were he was #ertainl( drea&ing+ and nne
t #&*rta%l())) al&st as un#&*rta%l( as the guards&an
sitting ne-t t 8el#arth+ wh was si&ilarl( stirring in his slee$
and &uttering in#herentl( under his %reath)
There/s s&ething nt right here+ 8el#arth thught)
S&ething)))
He lst the thread * the idea) In s$ite * hi&sel*+ he dri*ted
awa( *r& #ns#iusness , and when he sna$$ed %a#' again+
he 'new that he had &ade a &ista'e) He 'new that he had lst
a su%stantial *ra#tin * ti&e , $erha$s as &u#h as three hurs)
E!er(thing see&ed t %e &u#h as@ it had %een %e*re+ sa!e that
=r#h and Sauldrn were in *a#t aslee$+ %ut he 'new that ti&e
had ela$sed+ snat#hed awa( *r& hi& %( s&e tri#' *)))
8agi#)
Fr a &&ent+ the enr&it( * what he was thin'ing !er,
whel&ed 8el#arth/s i&aginatin) He had alwa(s %een
#n!in#ed that it was a %ad idea t a&$li*( the $wers * the
I&$eriu&/s &i-ed,%reed $s('ers with the nati!e drugs that the
a%rigine /wise,drea&ers/ used+ %e#ause he had alwa(s *elt sure
that the( were nt neutral instru&ents4 that the( were+ in *a#t+
$lluted %( the #rrsi!e e!il * the #!ens) Nw he was utterl(
#n!in#ed) Whate!er Bal%erith was tr(ing t d+ and whate!er
the $s('er was tr(ing t d+ the result #uld nl( %e a #atastr,
$he))) and the ti&e that he had lst had %rught hi& t the
!er( %rin' * that #atastr$he)
He std u$ suddenl(+ althugh the e**rt &ade hi& di11()
He %egan t sha'e the &an %eside hi& with ne hand+ and
rea#hed ut with the ther t %estir 8a.r,General =r#h+ %ut
his e(es were still *i-ed n Bal%erith and the $s('er) The $s('er
was still *eigning slee$+ and still see&ingl( !i#ti& t a night,
&are+ %ut Bal%erith/s e(es were wide $en)
What ha!e (u dne+ Ragan6/ 8el#arth de&anded) What
ha!e (u dne6/
Bal%erith didn/t answer) The Chie* In2uisitr &erel( s&iled
, %ut the s&ile said &re than a thusand wrds) It said that
Bal%erith had ne!er intended t %e a $assenger n this e-$edi,
tin+ su%&itting &ee'l( t whate!er *ate 8el#arth #uld
$re$are *r hi& at their intended destinatin) It said that
Bal%erith/s des$eratin had %een &re e-tre&e than 8el#arth
had i&agined+ $erha$s &re e-tre&e than 8el#arth #uld
ha!e i&agined)
N sner had that &inus s&ile s$read t its *ull e-tent
than the air#ra*t see&ed t %e#&e hrri%l( unstead(+ lur#hing
alar&ingl( t the le*t and dwnwards) 8el#arth *elt his st&,
a#h &us#les #len#h de*ensi!el(+ and 'new that i* his wn
re*le-es were alar&ed thse * his #&$anins were li'el( t
%e terrr,stri#'en , %ut &st * his #&$anins see&ed t %e
*ast aslee$ and drea&ing)
/8%erg6/ 8el#arth said+ an-iusl()
/It/s nl( tur%ulen#e+ e-#ellen#(+> the $ilt said) We/re lea!ing
the A&%er Waste and &!ing int &re te&$erate #untr() It/s
.ust a dwndra*t) Nthing t %e alar,/
His *inal wrd re&ained uns$'en as the air#ra*t lur#hed
again+ &re !ilentl( than %e*re)
=r#h aw'e and #a&e t his *eet i&&ediatel(+ his wn !i#e
*ra#turing as he s2uealed4 What/s ha$$ening6/
/Sit dwn0/ 8el#arth #&&anded , %ut =r#h was in n
&d t ta'e rders)
/I 'new this da&n &nstrsit( wasn/t sa*e0/ he hwled) /It/s
tw hundred (ears ld0 We/re ging t #rash0/
Te#h&aster Sauldrn was awa'e t %( nw) He+ at least+ had
the $resen#e * &ind t laun#h int a $ra(er rather than gi!ing
wa( t $ani#+ %ut 8el#arth 'new that he had %een dri!en t it
%( terrr rather than an( #n!i#tin that the $ra(er &ight %e
answered)
8el#arth thrust hi&sel* int the ##'$it+ int the narrw
s$a#e %ehind the $ilt/s seat) The air#ra*t was still shuddering
drun'enl(+ and its nse was di$$ing e!en lwer)
What is it+ &an6/ he de&anded * 8%erg)
/I))) dn/t 'nw+ sire+/ was the nl( re$l( he gt)
8el#arth realised+ a little %elatedl(+ that it didn/t reall(
&atter whether the #ra*t had *allen !i#ti& t s&e #ra1( $lan
* Bal%erith/s+ r t s&e ene&( sr#erer/s s$ell+ r whether
there had si&$l( %een a &e#hani#al &al*un#tin) The 2ues,
tin at sta'e was whether 8%erg #uld d an(thing a%ut
it)
All * a sudden+ 8el#arth saw the sense * the an-ieties *
whi#h he had $re!iusl( %een s #nte&$tuus) The air#ra*t
was an riginal+ *rged %( the real Ade$tus 8e#hani#us+ %ut it
was als tw hundred (ears ld) Faith in I&$erial &anu*a#ture
was ne thing+ he realised+ %ut *aith in wrldl( &aintenan#e
was 2uite anther) Sauldrn/s $rede#essrs had du%tless
%een un#&&nl( #are*ul t 'ee$ the &a#hiner( in gd
rder as well as $reser!ing the letter and *r& * all the ne#es,
sar( rituals+ %ut tw hundred (ears was a lng ti&e t 'ee$ the
#&$nents * the #ra*t *ree *r& #rrsin and &etal *atigue)
:al 8%erg was a well,s#hled $ilt+ %ut hw gd #uld a
$ilt reall( %e when his e-$erien#e * a#tual *l(ing had %een
li&ited t a *ew *ugiti!e hurs+ ne!er stra(ing &re than a
hundred &iles *r& Sstenut6
I ha!e %een t trusting+ 8el#arth thught+ &ar!elling at the
*a#t that e!en he #uld &a'e su#h a &ista'e) ; ha!e %een t
re#'less+ t i&$ulsi!e , and nw I a& in danger * lsing
e!er(thing+ ha!ing #&e s !er( #lse t ruling an entire wrld)
@9u ha!e t land us sa*el(+/ he said+ tautl(+ t :al 8%erg)
@Whate!er it is+ (u ha!e t set us sa*el( dwn)/
@What the hell d (u thin' I/& tr(ing t d6/ 8%erg #&,
$lained+ with *ran' disres$e#t) /I/& u$ here t+ aren/t I6/
The #ra*t was still sha'ing+ %ut its di!e had nt stee$ened)
8el#arth stared ut * the ##'$it/s narrw windws+ tr(ing t
see what la( ahead * the&) The night was well,ad!an#ed nw+
%ut the terrain see&ed !er( #n*used *r& this height) There
were !er( *ew lights in sight , nthing that &ight signal the
$resen#e * a su%stantial twn+ althugh there were ne r tw
that &ight %e the illu&inated windws * islated *ar&huses)
8el#arth 'new+ thugh+ that the lands %etween the *ar&s
wuld %e wild+ thi#'l( !ergrwn with all &anner * nati!e
!egetatin)
The nati!e !egetatin * Gul1a#andra+ 8el#arth 'new+ was
war$ed !egetatin+ su%tl( tainted *r thusands r &illins *
(ears %( the *aint #rru$tin that was in the sun,+ &n, and
starlight+ and in the !er( air) He had ne!er seen #nsidera%le
e-$anses * it , the sil * 5ala1endra had %een al&st entirel(
usur$ed %( hu&an #r$,grwers lng %e*re the I&$erial #ast,
awa(s had arri!ed there , %ut he 'new well enugh what the
!ast shadw %elw the air#ra*t #n#ealed)
/9u ha!e t *ind s&ewhere *lat+/ he tld 8%erg)
/S&ewhere we #an land)/
/I 'nw that+> 8%erg re$lied+ thrugh gritted teeth) /But I
#an/t see)/
/I/!e in*r&ed General Ful%ra * ur situatin+ e-#ellen#(+/
the !- $eratr said) His !i#e was &re #ntrlled+ althugh
the e**rt re2uired t &aintain its e!enness was %!ius)
Fr& the #a%in %ehind+ 8el#arth #uld hear shrie'ing) At
*irst the thught it &ight %e =r#h+ ha!ing #&$letel( lst #n,
trl+ %ut he realised sn enugh that it was 7eir A.a)
@The great %east0/ A.a was s#rea&ing) @The dae&n0 The
dae&n0 It/s ri$$ing the s'( a$art0/
The starlit s'( a%!e the&+ t 8el#arth/s e(e+ see&ed un#&,
&nl( 2uiet and #ertainl( unri$$ed , %ut the air thrugh
whi#h the #ra*t was $assing see&ed t %e %e#&ing in#reas,
ingl( distur%ed) The $lane was %un#ing u$ and dwn+
!i%rating hrri%l() 8%erg see&ed t %e *ighting the #ntrls ,
and lsing)
Sauldrn was shuting nw+ as i* he were tr(ing t drwn
A.a ut) He was sa(ing s&ething a%ut $ara#hutes+ %ut
8el#arth had n idea what a $ara#hute was) Te#h&asters were
#ustdians * all 'inds * ar#ane ntins whse &eanings had
un*rtunatel( %een lst)
/9OU #an d this+ :al+/ 8el#arth said+ thrwing $rt#l t the
winds) /9u #an set us dwn sa*el() Nne * us is ging t die)/
E-#e$t that sna'e Bal%erith+ and that #ra1( $s('er+ he added+
silentl() He was des$erate enugh nw t %egin a $ri!ate $ra(er
* his wn+ %ut he le*t Ragan Bal%erith ut * it+ e!en thugh
he 'new *ull well that Bal%erith &ight see& a &re righteus
&an t the 7i!ine E&$err/s all,'nwing ga1e)
The di!e had nt grwn stee$er %ut still the air#ra*t was ls,
ing height) It was .ust $ssi%le nw t see the &inus
shadw,sha$es * the tallest alien $lants+ whse aw*ul $r*u,
sin see&ed in*inite in the near,dar'ness)
/8a( the E&$err %e with (u+ lal+/ 8el#arth whis$ered+
&re sin#erel( than he wuld ha!e thught $ssi%le an hur
%e*re) /8a( he guide (u sa*el( t grund) 9u #an d it+ lal)
9u/re a $ilt) 9u #an d it0/
But while the dar' well * the Chas,tainted wasteland
rea#hed u$+ as i* t swallw the&+ Orl# 8el#arth was se#retl(
#n!in#ed that the well,s#hled %ut $rl( $ra#tised $ilt
#uldn/t d it at all)
7a&n (u+ Bal%erith+ he thught) 9u/!e destr(ed us a/l/)
TWENT9,THREE
7AT0 IAN HA7 ONL &re %rie* #n!ersatin with Ga!aln %e*re
the sr#erer ga!e the rder t atta#') He had al&st #eased t
%e a*raid * Ga!aln+ e!en while the sr#erer was standing near
t hi&+ %ut the sr#erer/s $resen#e see&ed+ n this ##asin+
&re inti&idating than it had e!er %een %e*re)
Althugh his %anner re&ained *urled+ *r the &&ent+ his
e(es ga!e the i&$ressin that the( t #uld wither at a glan#e
and the &utatins * his *lesh had &ade nti#ea%le $rgress)
He was &re hideus than 7athan #uld e!er ha!e i&agined+
his s'in a $at#hwr' * le$rus $at#hes+ tu*ts * *ur and s$ra(s
* ser$entine s#ales)
/Can (u sense Sathrael/s $resen#e in the wrld6/ Ga!aln
wanted t 'nw) /7 (u ha!e an( idea where the dae&n
&ight %e6 I &ust %e( the #&&ands that I ha!e %een gi!en+
%ut the( will lead us all t destru#tin i*Sathrael des nt add
his $wer t urs)/
7athan had %een thin'ing * little else *r se!eral hurs) He
had tried t will hi&sel* int the 'ind * tran#e state that
H(#illa had %een in when Ni&ian had *irst &ade &ental #n,
ta#t with her+ %ut he had ne!er had her talent and #uld nt d
it) There was a !ague sensatin that he had ne!er e-$erien#ed
%e*re s&ewhere at the %a#' * his %rain+ %ut e!er( atte&$t
he had &ade t %ring it int #learer &ental *#us had had the
$$site e**e#t)
/I #an/t tell+/ 7athan said) /I wish I #uld+ %ut I #an/t)/
Ga!aln s#wled+ &a'ing his hideus *a#e e!en &re
a$$alling) 7athan 2uailed %e*re the sr#erer/s ann(an#e+ %ut
Ga!aln/s e(es were nt (et *i-ed n hi&) The( see&ed t %e
sear#hing *r s&e *urther target+ lst in in*init()
Then we &ust *ind anther wa( t wr' the ra#le+/ the sr,
#erer said) This &a( hurt+ a little+ %ut it will nt last lng and
(u will %e strnger therea*ter) C&e #lser)/
The last thing 7athan wanted t d was ste$ #lser t the
sr#erer while he was in su#h an un#ertain state+ %ut he had n
alternati!e) He %e(ed the rder+ tr(ing nt t tre&%le t
&u#h)
Ga!aln $la#ed his ungainl( hands n 7athan/s shulders)
He had dne it %e*re+ %ut nt %th * the& at n#e+ and nt
while 7athan was standing dire#tl( in *rnt * hi&) This
ti&e+ 7athan 'new+ the sr#erer intended t l' int hi& ,
int his &ind and int his sul , and he *elt sure+ as he stud,
ied thse huge+ unnatural and ill,&at#hed e(es+ that the
sr#erer/s s#rutin( wuld nt lea!e his &ind and sul
un#hanged)
This &ight d wrse than hurt &e+ he thught) Ne!ertheless+
it was %( #hi#e that he &et Ga!aln/s hrrid and in2uisiti!e
stare with his wn &ee' e(es+ and %( #hi#e that he let the
#ha&$in * Chas int his &ind and sul)
In *i*teen (ears+ it had ne!er ##urred t 7athan t wnder
hw li'e r unli'e ther &inds his wn &ight %e) He had nt
alwa(s %een #ntent t %e hi&sel*+ %ut he had alwa(s a##e$ted
that he was what he was+ and that the 2uestin * e-a#tl( what
he was , and hw that #&$ared with what ther &en were ,
did nt re2uire t %e raised+ let alne #nte&$lated at length)
Nw+ he suddenl( *elt utterl( di**erent)
7athan understd+ a%ru$tl(+ that he was a !er( *rail and
*ragile thing+ * a srt that &ight %e %anished *r& the #re *
his wn %eing+ r twisted int s&ething utterl( di**erent+ n a
&&entar( whi& * a &re $wer*ul #reature) He understd
that Ga!aln the Great #uld ha!e destr(ed s&ething li'e
hi& with a %itter glan#e , nt entirel( withut #st t hi&sel*
%ut at n great lss , and that the nl( reasn Ga!aln
tlerated his *urther e-isten#e in the wrld was that he &ight
%e use*ul+ nt *r a li*eti&e+ %ut $erha$s *r a da( r tw)
A*ter that+ he wuld %e nthing+ r less than nthing) He
wuld %e turned int a 2uantit( that was nt &erel( negligi%le
r negati!e %ut strangel( twisted4 irratinal at least+ i* nt i&ag,
inar() And he was use*ul nw nt %e#ause * an(thing he #uld
a#tuall( d * his wn !litin+ %ut %e#ause * s&ething writ,
ten in his *lesh in an ar#ane language that he #uld nt read4
s&ething that &erel( used hi&+ as i* he were s&thed,!er
sand in whi#h a #asual s'et#h &ight %e &ade+ erasa%le %( ti&e+
r the wind+ r an e2uall( unthin'ing $r#ess)
It did hurt+ in &re wa(s than ne , %ut Ga!aln had nt
lied t hi&) Althugh the a*ter,e**e#ts * the sr#erer/s stare le*t
hi& gas$ing and ret#hing when the de&anding ga1e *inall(
shi*ted+ 7athan 'new that there was a $er!erse sense in whi#h
he was strnger) He had %een #lse t death in an( #ase , he
alread( 'new that , and he was %( n &eans #a$a%le+ as (et+ *
utter indi**eren#e t his *ate+ %ut he had nw ta'en a ste$ #lser
t an indi**eren#e that e&%ra#ed da&natin as well as death)
He had %egun t see what the dae&n &eant when its =essel
had tld hi& that it nl( &attered hw a li*e &ight %u&+ and
nt *r hw lng)
When 7athan l'ed u$ again+ Ga!aln/s e(es were *ar less
dread*ul) The sr#erer see&ed t %e $u11led)
/What is it6/ 7athan dared t as') What did (u learn6/
/I d nt understand where Sathrael went+ r wh(+/ the sr,
#erer #n*essed) /I d nt 'nw wh( the dae&n wuld nt
#&e t &e sner+ r wh( it wants &e t atta#' the I&$eriu&
%e*re it #&es , %ut ne thing is #ertain) Sathrael will #&e)
8( !i#tr( will %e the !i#tr( * Change3 &( *ul*il&ent+ the *ul,
*il&ent * the Great 8eta&r$hsis)/
It was nt a hel$*ul answer+ %ut 7athan was glad t ha!e
re#ei!ed it)
/8unt u$+/ Ga!aln said t hi&+ 2uietl() The ti&e has
#&e)/ Then he re$eated the rder+ a little &re ludl(+ *r the
%ene*it * thers) Withut e!er %eing raised t a shut+ the
whis$er $assed thrugh the entire tr$ , nt &erel( the
hrse&en+ %ut the !arius #ntingents * in*antr( that had
%een drawn u$ t either side * the&)
The sun/s dis# was alread( %s#ured %( the western hri1n)
7athan 'new that the twilight wuld *ade 2ui#'l() Tw &ns
had alread( risen+ and he .udged %( the rare steadiness * their
light that the night,s'( wuld %e unusuall( still , #ertainl(
stiller than he had e!er seen it+ and $erha$s stiller than it had
e!er %een %e*re)
/Well+/ said A%dal'uri+ when the tw * the& had &unted
u$ and #&e int *r&atin side,%(,side) /It will %e a strange
night in whi#h t die+ and a *ar stranger && i* either * us
shuld li!e t see it) Are (u read(6/
/9es I a&+/ 7athan said) /I did nt thin' I wuld %e+ %ut I
thin' I a&) I a& a &an and a warrir+ nt a %()/
/I ha!e %een &re than a &an *r as lng as I #an re&e&%er+/
the thrall,wi1ard said+ %lea'l(+ /and #annt nw re&e&%er that
I e!er was a %(+ %ut I wish I were a little less read( than I a&)
I wuld wish (u well+ #hild,%e#&#,&an+ were I #a$a%le *
su#h a wish)/
/And I wuld than' (u+ i* (u were+/ 7athan answered
sle&nl(+ althugh he was nt entirel( sure what he &eant %( it)
Then the line * #a!alr( &!ed *rward+ all as ne+ althugh
7athan had nt seen the signal gi!en) This ti&e+ his &unt was
2ui#' t #hange its $a#es+ *irst t a trt+ then a #anter+ and
*inall( a gall$)
The gall$ see&ed t g n *r an un#ns#ina%l( lng ti&e
as the gl& * dus' gathered and the stars #a&e ut in *ull
*r#e) The( were stead(+ silent and $rud) 7athan+ still su**er,
ing the a*ter,e**e#ts * Ga!aln/s in2uisiti!e stare+ thught that
he had sli$$ed ut * ti&e altgether+ and althugh the &as,
si!e h!es * his &ulti#lured &unt were dru&&ing
thunderusl( u$n the #arse and desi##ated grund he *elt as
i* he were al&st *lating+ 'ee$ing #lser #&$an( with the
stars than with the earth)
He *et#hed his ri*le *r& its ldging,$la#e and held it u$ in
his right hand+ li*ting it high a%!e his head as i* t dis$la( it t
his #&$anins , %ut the( were ging t *ast nw t $a( an(
heed t hi&+ and he #uld nl( #at#h *leeting gli&$ses * the&
as the( le!elled their lan#es and %egan t un*url their %anners)
He thught that the %anners &ust %e a wnder*ul sight t
%ehld+ e!en thugh the un#&&nl( %right and un#&,
&nl( white light * the stars #uld nt d *ull .usti#e t the
rit * reds and $ur$les+ %lues and $in's+ glds and !ilets+ %ut
he #uld nt %ear witness t that glr( hi&sel* while he was
$art * its headlng rush)
Then he saw the ene&(+ and understd hw #lse t death
he was)
The stead( stars+ whi#h #uld nt d .usti#e t the *la&%(,
an#e * his wn side+ were &ere e#hes * the %la1ing white
lights that the ene&( had nw turned u$n the& , %ut the
ene&(/s sear#hlights were nt there t enhan#e a$$re#iatin *
the %anners/ &an( #lurs3 the( were there t *ind targets)
7athan had &et the ene&( %e*re+ and had su%#ns#iusl(
allwed thse tw tin( #ntingents t *r&ulate and #nstrain
his ntin * what the %attle wuld %e li'e) Nw he under,
std his errr) The headla&$s * the tru#'s %( the $l had
%een &ere #andles #&$ared with this arra( * sear#hlights+
and the tru#'s the&sel!es &ere t(s %( #&$arisn with the
ar&s and ar&ur drawn u$ %e*re hi& nw)
There were tru#'s there+ t %e sure , tru#'s enugh+ it
see&ed+ t *ill the hri1n , %ut there were %igger &a#hines
t+ and stranger nes) And there were guns) E!en %e*re the(
$ened u$+ 7athan realised hw &an( guns there &ust %e+ and
what a %arrage the( &ight la( dwn u$n a #harging ene&()
This is a%surd0 he suddenl( thught+ as his heart lur#hed) We
are &en+ &unted n hrses+ &st * us %earing nthing %ut
lan#es) The( are the I&$eriu&0
Fr the *irst ti&e+ he had an in'ling * what the I&$eriu&
was+ and what it &eant+ and wh( it was su#h a *ears&e ene&(
e!en *r $wer*ul &en li'e Ca!aln+ wh had %een &re than
&en sin#e the( were in*ants+ and wh #arried su#h awes&e
wea$ns as the withering e(e %anner and the hrn * agn()
Then the guns %egan *iring+ all at n#e+ and the thunder
%lasted his eardru&s) The da11le * the sear#hlights was
in#reased %( &ultitudinus *lashes+ and the air was ri$$ed %(
the sh#', and heat,wa!es * #untless e-$lsi!e %lasts) It
see&ed i&$ssi%le that an( &an &ight ride thrugh that te&,
$est uns#athed+ and 7athan had n du%t that a great &an( *
his #&$anins had %een 'illed n the instant+ %ut he did ride
thrugh it+ and he #ntinued riding e!en as the lights rushed
u$n hi& and the str& rea#hed ut t swallw hi& u$ entire)
The *irst ti&e 7athan *ired *r& the saddle the re#il nearl(
'n#'ed hi& ** the hrse+ %ut he swa(ed %a#' and then
swa(ed *rward again+ and he *ired and he *ired and he *ired)
He #uld nt $i#' ut hu&an targets in the wells * shadw
%ehind and %etween the lights+ %ut he *ired regardless+
re#'lessl( assu&ing that the ene&( were s &an( that e!en
rand& shts &ight stri'e h&e)
He did nt #at#h a gli&$se * A%dal'uri/s standard+ %ut he
'new where A%dal'uri was , where he &ust %e+ i* that *irst
*right*ul !lle( had nt %lwn hi& a$art , and he *elt the %a#',
wash * the hell*ire it unleashed) His e(es+ da11led as the( were+
t' nte * the #lur that suddenl( in*e#ted the surrunding
%la1e * white+ and his dea*ened ears still had rea#ti!it( enugh
t $er#ei!e the a!id #ra#'ling * the air and the trtured
s#rea&ing * the wea$n/s !i#ti&s)
Fr his wn $art+ 7athan #ntinued *iring the ri*le he had
li%erated *r& his ene&ies+ *irst this wa( and then that+ while
his hrse wheeled and #hanged ta#') The ani&al was n lnger
gall$ing nw that the( had rea#hed their destinatin+ %ut it
had nt $aused3 it was $ran#ing and lea$ing+ and the rh(th&
* its h*%eats was dan#e,li'e) It was a de#e$ti!e #reature+ %ut
it had t &!e in rder t distrt the $er#e$tins * its ene,
&ies) It #uld nt stand still , and 7athan was glad * that+ *r
while death was all arund hi& he #uld nt %ear the thught
* stillness)
T %e still+ in su#h an in*ern as this+ wuld %e t wait *r
death+ t in!ite death+ t a##e$t death) 7athan was nt read(
t d that+ *r his *irst $ur$se was t 'ill+ and t &a'e the
#st * his e!entual death higher than the ene&( #uld stand
t $a()
I* 7athan had alread( sli$$ed+ su%.e#ti!el(+ ut * ti&e+ he
nw see&ed t %e sli$$ing ut * s$a#e as well) He had lst
tu#h with an( sense * $la#e+ and &ight ha!e %een an(where
in the !ast #n*usin * the %attle+ althugh he #uld nt $s,
si%l( ha!e $enetrated dee$ int the ene&(/s lines) He was n
lnger sure whether he was tin( r !ast+ r whether the lights
that *r&ed an in*inite #age arund hi& were *ire*lies r suns)
It was astnishingl( eas( t !isualise hi&sel*+ in his &ind/s
se#ret #(#l$ti# e(e+ as a winged giant saring high a%!e the
%attle+ glr(ing in all that wndrus *ire and *ur(+ sa'ing u$
the suls * the dead as i* the( were int-i#ating li2ur+ a*la&e
with the head( al#hl * sa#ri*i#e)
It was astnishingl( si&$le+ nw that the stars were standing
still in the s'(+ *r 7athan t *rget the nthing that he had
%e#&e+ r the 2uantit( nt &erel( negati!e %ut strange+ and
see instead the nt,sel* that was greater %( *ar than he #uld
e!er ha!e %een4 the nt,sel* whse tiniest *inger had &re
#le!erness+ when se!ered+ than an( hu&an *l3 the nt,sel*
that had nl( needed t la( its ear u$n his shulder t in*e#t
hi& with a #rrsin that wuld eat his sul3 the nt,sel* that
was still nl( $an,wa( t the Great 8eta&r$hsis+ whi#h had
lain in e&%r( within the heart * the wrld+ nt *r tw
hundred (ears %ut *r tw thusand+ and nw was grwn int
its &a(*l( *ire*l( dragn*l( &aturit(+ t %urn *r .ust a &&ent
%ut t %urn s %rightl(+ s !er(+ !er( %rightl()))
He e&$tied his ri*le and reladed+ and suddenl( *und the
a%ilit( t see hu&an *igures within the shadws4 hu&an *igures
that #uld nt see hi&+ r e!en the #lured %lur that hid hi&+
and shuld nt ha!e %een read( targets *r a #reature su#h as
he)
He *ired and sht a &an in the &uth+ %lasting his .aw t
shreds)
He *ired again+ and saw his %ullet tear int a &an/s thigh+
$lughing thrugh the *at and *lesh t ri$ the *e&ral arter(
a$art)
He *ired again+ and saw his %ullet ri##het *r& the $late *
steel t stri'e a sni$er in the !er( e(e that he was $ressing t his
gunsight)
He *ired again+ and saw a &an hurl awa( his las$istl in
rder t #lut#h his na!el+ as i* %( hlding his intestines in he
#uld ste& the ra$id e%% * his li*e,*r#e)
He *ired again+ and saw)))
He saw the shadw * in#redi%le wings *all $re#i$itusl(
a#rss the %attle*ield+ and understd that Sathrael had
indeed arri!ed+ nt t hel$ Ga!aln/s ar&( %ut t *eed u$n its
re#'less sa#ri*i#e+ and t *eed u$n its *allen *es+ and t *eed
and *eed and *eed)))
And 7athan understd+ then+ what Ga!aln had &eant ,
althugh he #ertainl( had nt 'nwn it , when he had said
that the ne #ertain thing in a &ist * #n*usin was that
Sathrael wuld #&e and that Ga!aln/s !i#tr( wuld %e the
dae&n/s !i#tr()
Then his hrse was sht *r& under hi&+ and he *ell , *ar
&re rughl( this ti&e than he had during the s'ir&ish at the
*ar&huse) He *ell int the shadw * thse aw*ul wings+ int
a dar'ness that al&st let hi& see again+ int air s de*tl( &u*,
*led that he #uld al&st hear again)
He wuld ha!e li'ed t lie still *r a &&ent r tw+ t #l,
le#t hi&sel*+ %ut he did nt ha!e ti&e t $ause) There were
lesser shadws all arund hi&4 &en wh wuld #ertainl( 'ill
hi& i* he #uld nt 'ill the& *irst) He had t use his ri*le as a
&ere sta** t $arr( a swrd,thrust+ and then as a %rute #lu% in
rder t stri'e %a#'+ and he 'new that the *ight wuld g n
and n and n until he *ell+ and that he wuld li'el( ne!er rise
again)
He wndered what had %e#&e * Ga!aln+ and all the
&agi# the sr#erer had harded s #are*ull( *r this e!il da(4
the withering e(e %anner+ the hrn * agn(+ and s &u#h
&re)
He $arried anther swrd,thrust+ then stru#' %a#' again) He
*elt the *r#e * an i&$a#t+ and 'new that he &ust ha!e hurt
s&ene+ %ut the 'illing $wer he had wielded with su#h %rie*
e**i#ien#( was gne nw3 he was alne and earth%und+ ut,
nu&%ered and !erwhel&ed) There were t &an( ene&ies+
and he had t little strength)
He lashed ut again+ and again+ hitting nthing)
Then he was stru#' in the %a#'+ and he *ell)
Fr a &&ent he re&ained 'neeling+ his ar&s re*le-i!el(
utstret#hed as i* the( were wings that &ight s&ehw li*t hi&
u$ int the s'( and ut * the $it * death , %ut the( were nt+
and he $it#hed *rward)
His *a#e des#ended int a $l * &ud) 7athan 'new that
the &ud was #&$unded ut * sil and %ld+ nt sil and
water+ %e#ause there had %een n rain herea%uts *r &an(
da(s)
: wnder what H(#illa is ding nw+ he thught) : $ra( t e!er(
gd there ;I that she is sa*e)
TWENT9,FOUR
H9CII)LA CREPT CARP,FULL9 twards the wre#'age * the *l(ing
&a#hine)
It had #&e dwn at su#h a shallw angle that it &ight ha!e
%een a%le t land sa*el( i* the grund had %een %etter)
Whe!er had %een in #ntrl , r nt 2uite ut * #ntrl ,
had &anaged t steer it awa( *r& the densest #lu&$s *
$lants+ %ut al&st as sn as its landing,wheels had tu#hed
the grund their t(res had %urst) One * the& was trn awa(+
dr$$ing the le*t,hand wing n t the %a'ed earth) That had
sent the %d( * the &a#hine int a s$in+ until the dragging
wing had shattered) A*ter that+ the %d( had %egun t *ra#ture
and #&e a$art+ di**erent se#tins s'idding in three di**erent
dire#tins)
At *irst+ H(#illa #uld nt %elie!e that an(ne inside the
&a#hine #uld $ssi%l( ha!e sur!i!ed the #rash , %ut when
the rar * the i&$a#t *inall( died dwn she heard a *ew &u*,
*led !i#es) S&e were &erel( #ughing , the #rash had stirred
u$ a great deal * dust , %ut thers were #&$laining r #all,
ing *r hel$)
She did nt du%t that Sathrael had tld her t wat#h the
s'( *r a $ur$se+ and that this was it+ %ut #nsidering that the
dae&n had %een s une-$e#tedl( l2ua#ius while she was
$er#hed n its shulder+ she *und it sur$rising that it had
gi!en her n indi#atin * what she ught t d when the
wat#hed,*r e!ent ##urred)
The &a#hine was %!iusl( I&$erial in rigin+ s the &en
in.ured in the #rash were $resu&a%l( sldiers) It see&ed
highl( i&$r%a%le+ there*re+ that she had %een $sted here t
render assistan#e) Had she+ then+ %een set here t &a'e sure
that the #rash sur!i!rs did nt sur!i!e *r lng6
That see&ed the li'eliest $ssi%ilit(+ *r the &&ent , and
it #ertainl( a##rded with her wn in#linatins+ s she held
her %lade at the read( while she &!ed tward the *irst * the
%r'en se#tins)
This had %een the &id,se#tin * the air#ra*t/s %d(+ *r&
whi#h %th the *rnt and rear end had %een se$arated) She
#uld nl( hear ne &an/s !i#e e&anating *r& within it+
and the !i#e was #alling inter&ittentl( *r hel$ , inter&it,
tentl( %e#ause it had t %rea' ** re$eatedl( in *its * ra#'ing
#ughs)
As she $eered rund the ragged edge * the hull+ whse all(
had %een sheared as easil( as $rl(,w!en #lth+ she saw nt
ne &an %ut tw+ %th s$readeagled n what had %een the
side * the #&$art&ent %ut was nw its *lr) Neither &an
was dead+ %ut neither see&ed a%le t rise3 the( had %r'en
li&%s r %adl( %ruised %a#'s)
H(#illa &!ed 2ui#'l(+ hardl( $ausing t nte that nl( ne
* the tw wre &ilitar( uni*r&+ the ther wearing what
&ight ha!e %een a $riestl( r%e) She slit their thrats swi*tl(
and easil(+ h$ing that an(ne wh &ight %e listening wuld
ta'e n warning *r& the a%ru$t #essatin * the i&$lring
!i#e)
She re&ained within the tu%ular se#tin while she
atte&$ted t *igure ut where the ther sur!i!rs &ight %e)
Lgi#all(+ the #ntrls * the *l(ing &a#hine shuld ha!e %een
l#ated at the *rnt+ with at least ne &an in #harge * the&)
When the #ra*t had %egun its des#ent t the grund+ thers
&ight well ha!e run *rward t see what was ha$$ening) The(
&ight easil( ha!e %een #rushed+ %ut s&e &ight ha!e sur,
!i!ed) It see&ed t H(#illa it wuld %e &re sensi%le t g t
the rear se#tin *irst)
Ha!ing &ade this de#isin+ she was 2ui#' t a#t u$n it)
5ee$ing her head dwn+ she s#a&$ered a#rss the %are
grund twards the tail,se#tin * the &a#hine/s hull+ ddg,
ing se!eral $ie#es * .agged wre#'age) She had heard a !i#e
#&ing *r& this se#tin %e*re entering the ther+ %ut it had
*allen silent nw+ s she a$$ra#hed !er( #autiusl()
Be#ause the $en end was turned awa( *r& the %right,
est &n the interir was shadwed+ and there was a
#nsidera%le a&unt * dust swirling a%ut the interir)
E!en s+ it nl( t' her a *ew se#nds t de#ide that there
was nl( ne li!ing $ersn within4 the se#nd %d(+ * a
%url( &an in what was $resu&a%l( #i!ilian dress+ la( s
#r'edl( that it was %!ius that the &an/s s$ine had
%een sna$$ed)
The li!ing &an+ n the ther hand+ see&ed relati!el(
unhurt) He &ust ha!e %een %ruised+ %ut his li&%s were sund
enugh t ha!e let hi& s#ra&%le t his #&$anin/s side and
'neel !er hi&)
H(#illa &ade e!er( e**rt t %e 2uiet+ %ut it see&ed that she
&ust ha!e &ade a sund * s&e srt+ *r the sur!i!r turned
t l' at her while she was still *i!e r si- $a#es awa() He was
unar&ed+ and i* she had &!ed 2ui#'l( enugh she &ight
ha!e %een a%le t sta% hi& in the thrat r %reast %e*re he
had ti&e t ta'e an( e**e#ti!e de*ensi!e a#tin , %ut s&e,
thing &ade her hesitate)
She did nt 'nw what it was that had &ade her $ause until
she saw the e-$ressin *laring u$ in his e(es4 a 'ind * re#g,
nitin+ nt &erel( * what she was %ut a#tuall( * wh she was
, nt &erel( * wh she had re#entl( %e#&e %ut * wh she
had alwa(s %een)
The &an was a wise,drea&er) He had seen her %e*re+ in his
drea&s)
And she+ she nw realised+ had seen hi&) The *a#t had
sli$$ed her &ind+ %ut the sight * hi& %rught it %a#')
H(#illa had nt sus$e#ted until nw that the I&$eriu&
&ight ha!e wise,drea&ers * its wn+ and e!en thugh the
sus$i#in sur*a#ed nw+ she #uld nt 2uite %elie!e it) She had
%een tld that the 5ala1endrans hated e!er(thing that the $e,
$le * Cul1a#andra were+ es$e#iall( their tra**i# with the
wrlds %e(nd the wrld)
Her *irst assu&$tin+ there*re+ was that this &ust %e a #a$,
ti!e4 a $risner+ trans$rted against his will)
Was this+ she wndered+ wh( Sathrael had sent her here6
Was she here t a##&$lish a res#ue rather than a &assa#re6
/Wh are (u6/ she as'ed+ in a !i#e as lw as it was taut)
Instead * re$l(ing+ the &an stared at her with in#reasing
hrrr) /Wit#h0/ he e!entuall( said+ in a !i#e *ar tenser than
her wn) /Hells$awn0 8nster0/
H(#illa saw i&&ediatel( that her dedu#tins &ust ha!e
%een at *ault) O%!iusl(+ the I&$eriu& did ha!e wise,drea&,
ers+ wh $r%a%l( #nsidered their Gul1a#andran #unter$arts
t %e e!il , %ut there was still an at& * du%t) He had re#g,
nised her+ and she had re#gnised hi&) The( had seen ne
anther in their drea&s+ and their *ates were %und tgether)
Surel( he understd that+ .ust as she did) Or did he6
H(#illa 'new hw &u#h she had #hanged sin#e she had *irst
%een tu#hed %( Sathrael/s !essel+ and she 'new that the !il,
lagers a&ng wh& she had grwn u$ wuld ha!e %een
hrri*ied t see her s grtes2uel( &utated) The( t &ight
ha!e #alled her &nster , thugh nt wit#h r hells$awn+
whi#h were $resu&a%l( 5ala1endran ter&s * a%use) Fr this
reasn+ she #ntinued t hesitate !er what t d ne-t) It still
see&ed t her that this drea&er , this $arti#ular drea&er+
a%!e all thers , &ight %e use*ul t Sathrael/s #ause+ and
there*re wrth $reser!ing)
In an( #ase+ he was unar&ed+ and he had &ade n &!e t
retrie!e the wea$n #arried %( the &an with the %r'en %a#')
/What/s (ur na&e6/ she as'ed) There was $wer in na&es+
she 'new) I* he wuld nl( tell her that+ she thught that she
&ight %e a%le t e-ert s&e *r& * #ntrl !er hi&+ as a sr,
#erer t a thrall,wi1ard) Perha$s that was the &anner in whi#h
their *ates were entwined)
But the ther had n intentin * telling her , and she had
lingered t lng)
She *elt s&ething #ld and &etalli# against the %a#' * her
ne#') A !i#e that was *ar t #lse t her ear hissed3 /7r$ the
'ni*e0/
She thught a%ut whirling arund+ tr(ing t 'n#' awa(
the hand hlding the gun and $lunging the 'ni*e int her
ad!ersar(/s guts+ %ut she 'new that he wuld #ertainl( %last her
head ** i* she did nt d as she was tld)
She dr$$ed the 'ni*e+ %ut she re&ained tense and alert+
read( t $i#' it u$ again i* the $$rtunit( $resented itsel*)
She turned t *a#e the &an wh had tra$$ed her) Li'e the
wise,drea&er and his #&$anin he was nt wearing &ilitar(
uni*r&) Nr was the se#nd &an wh std %ehind hi&+
&$$ing %ld *r& a #ut t the side * his head)
The &an wh was #!ering her with a $istl was dressed in
what see&ed t her an unusuall( austere st(le+ whi#h shuld
ha!e indi#ated that he was a &an * dis#i$line and a true
#ha&$in * rder) There was+ hwe!er+ a glint in his e(e that
H(#illa i&&ediatel( re#gnised as a *li#'er * 'indred s$irit)
S&ehw+ $resu&a%l( in s$ite * hi&sel*+ this &an had %een
tu#hed+ i* nt %( Sathrael then s&ething si&ilar) There
had %een a #hin' in his s$iritual ar&ur4 s&e 'ind * %ses,
sin that had #reated s$a#e *r the wiles * her wn gd t
wr' u$n hi& li'e a wr& in the %ud)
She 'new+ thugh+ that this wuld nt &a'e hi& an( less
dangerus) Cuite the $$site+ in *a#t)
/Sht it0/ the %leeding &an urged) T dn/t 'nw what it is+
%ut *r the E&$err/s sa'e+ Ragan+ 'ill the thing0 8( guards are
all dead r disa%led , 8%erg and the !- $eratr t) We
#an/t ta'e an( ris's) 5ill it0/
/It/s a she+/ the &an with the $istl re$lied+ $ensi!el() /She/s
a &utant+ %ut she/s (ung in s$ite * her height , hardl( &re
than a girl)/
/Whate!er it is+ it/s dangerus) I* (u and (ur #ra1( $s('er
didn/t %ring the $lane dwn+ she $r%a%l( did) 5ill it0/
DWe dn/t 'nw that she/s hstile+/ the &an na&ed Ragan
#untered+ with the ghst * an dd s&ile $la(ing a%ut his
li$s) /E!en i* she is+ she &ight %e use*ul) Can (u tal'+
hells$awn6 7 (u understand &( language)/
/O* #urse I #an tal'+/ H(#illa re$lied #nte&$tuusl() /What
ther language wuld I use6/
/Is G!ernr 8el#arth right6/ the &an with the $istl had the
te&erit( t as') /7id (u %ring the air#ra*t dwn6 Shuld I
sht (u+ %e*re (u %last us all with sr#er(6/
H(#illa was %rie*l( te&$ted t #lai& #redit *r the #rash+ %ut
she de#ided that the wiser #urse was t tr( t a$$ear har&less
in s$ite * her alar&ing a$$earan#e) The &an with the $istl
wuld ha!e %een &re than a *t taller than her tw da(s
ag+ %ut she had an e2ual ad!antage nw) She was slender+ *
#urse+ %ut s was he) He was hesitating *r a reasn) He reall(
did thin' she &ight %e use*ul t hi&) Was it $ssi%le+ gi!en
that she hadn/t #aused the *l(ing,&a#hine t #rash+ that he
&ight ha!e dne s+ as his *riend a$$eared t sus$e#t6 I* s+
was he t a $awn , $resu&a%l( an unsus$e#ting ne , *
Sathrael6
/I #a&e t see what I #uld d t hel$+/ she said+ h$ing that
the( had nt seen what she had dne t the wunded &en in
the &id,se#tin * the hull)
/Nnsense+/ said the &an addressed as g!ernr) /9OU #an see
that she/s a &utant+ Ragan) It/s an in2uisitr/s .% t $urge the
wrld * su#h as her)/
At least+ H(#illa thught+ he had st$$ed re*erring t her as
/it/)
/Wh( did (u as' his na&e6/ the in2uisitr as'ed)
/She/s a wit#h+/ re$eated the &an wh was nw %ehind her)
/The g!ernr/s right+ sir) She/s dangerus) A $s('er+ *ar &re
$wer*ul than &e)/
/A $s('er+/ e#hed the &an with the gun+ as i* that were the
heart * the &atter) That/s what I thught)/ H(#illa realised
that the &an wh held the $istl was n less a*raid * her+ and
n less hrri*ied %( her+ than his tw dread,stri#'en #&$an,
ins , $erha$s e!en &re s , %ut that s&ething else was
getting in the wa( * his *ear)
That s&ething was nt #urage+ i* her .udg&ent * su#h
alien #reatures #uld %e trusted+ %ut des$eratin)
/Sht her+/ the g!ernr said+ again) /Wh( wn/t (u sht
her6/
/L' at the s'(+ Orl# 8el#arth+/ the in2uisitr said) Tw
&ns are u$ and %right as the(/!e e!er %een+ %ut the stars are
ut in all their $r*usin) Tell &e+ e-#ellen#(4 what d (u
see6/
The &an t wh& he had s$'en did nt res$nd+ %ut the
ther &an hurried $ast her int the $en air+ where he threw
%a#' his head in rder t l' u$ twards the 1enith)
The(/re standing still0/ the I&$erial drea&er said) The
war$str& has died0 I #an d it nw , I/& sure I #an) I #an get
thrugh t the Fleet0/
/I dare sa( that (u #uld+/ the &an with the $istl said) /We
&ust #ertainl( tr( , and $erha$s the( will re$l( t (ur #r( *r
hel$) I #annt hel$ %ut wnder+ thugh+ i* the( wuld $a(
&re attentin+ and ta'e the &atter &re seriusl(+ i* there
were &re than ne silent !i#e t %e heard)/
/7n/t %e ridi#ulus+ Ragan+> the g!ernr said) That thing
isn/t ging t hel$ (u0 She/s a &utant+ &re li'el( t su&,
&n sr#erers and dae&ns)/
/Wh will nt #&e+ gi!en that there is a &re i&&ediate
ene&( t *a#e in Ful%ra) O* #urse she will nt hel$+ sire , nt
willingl() But hw &u#h #ntrl des she ha!e !er her wn
$wers+ when she is in the gri$ * the drug6 And hw &u#h
#ntrl #uld she 'ee$+ i* she were !erdsed6 Ps('ers a#ting
in #n#ert usuall( %e#&e #n*used+ e!en i* the( are twin
suls s *ar as their l(alt( t the In2uisitin and the E&$err
is #n#erned , %ut e!en #n*usin &a( %e $rdu#ti!e) I* we
#an get a #r( *r hel$ t the Fleet+ all well and gd , %ut i* we
#an let lse a #r( * rage and agn( t+ &ight we nt %e %et,
ter a%le t #&&uni#ate the urgen#( * ur situatin6/
/9u/re &ad+/ said Orl# 8el#arth)
H(#illa had ne!er e-$e#ted t *ind hersel* in agree&ent with
an I&$erial g!ernr+ %ut she thught it a sund .udg&ent)
/N+/ said the I&$erial drea&er) /Please sir+ n0 9u dn/t
understand) It wuld destr( &e) Sir+ she/d tear &( &ind a$art
as easil( as the $lane was trn) 9u #an/t) 5ill her+ sir) 5ill her+
$lease0/
H(#illa suddenl( realised+ al&st as i* she were %elatedl(
re&e&%ering a tri!ial *a#t that had s&ehw sli$$ed her
&ind+ e-a#tl( wh( Sathrael had set her t wat#h the s'(+ and
e-a#tl( what she was nw su$$sed t d)
The &an the g!ernr #alled Ragan had nw rela-ed su**i,
#ientl( t let her ddge an( %ullet he *ired+ had she #ared t d
s+ and she was #ertain that she #uld ha!e $i#'ed u$ the 'ni*e
and gutted hi& %e*re he *ired a se#nd ti&e) In2uisitr r
nt+ the &an had nt the slightest idea what he was dealing
with) The terrr and the hrrr that shuld ha!e tld hi&
what t d had %een snared in a net * #n*usin) She+ nt he+
was in #ntrl here , r+ &re $re#isel(+ it was Sathrael that
was in #&&and+ $erating thrugh the *lesh that %re his
stig&ata)
/He/s right+/ H(#illa said+ &ildl() /I* (u set us t drea&
tgether) I wn/t need t 'nw his na&e t enter int his night,
&are and tear hi& a$art) It will nt &atter whether his d(ing
s#rea& rea#hes the s$a#eshi$s r nt3 the( will nt #&e) But
i* (u let &e wal' awa(+ (u ha!e a #han#e t li!e ut (ur li!es
, in 5ala1endra+ i* (u #an *ind a wa( t return)/
JEK
/We #an get %a#' easil( enugh+/ the g!ernr was 2ui#' t
sa() Tul%ra/s *r#es #annt %e *ar awa(+ and when the %attle is
.ined in earnest the( will win it in a &atter * hurs) We #an
still return as $art * a !i#trius ar&(+ al%eit &re slwl( than
I had $lanned) Sht her+ Ragan) :ust sht her)/
/Please+/ said the drea&er+ wea'l()
/All (u/!e e!er wanted+ Orl# 8el#arth+/ said the &an
na&ed Ragan+ /was t %e g!ernr * Sig&atus) 9u/!e ne!er
#ared hw well the war against Chas went+ and (u/d rather
the Fleet ne!er &ade #nta#t again than share (ur $wer with
thse wh are wrth( t wield it) But the hur * the
I&$eriu& is #&e , nt the *aded shadw that is (ur
I&$eriu&+ %ut the true I&$eriu&4 the I&$eriu& * All
8an'ind) That greater I&$eriu& shall 'nw what is ha$$en,
ing here+ and what has ha$$ened during these last tw
hundred (ears) The &asters * the shi$s will 'nw what has
%een dne and what has nt+ and what &ust nw %e dne+
and what &ust nt) ; was ne!er &re #ertain * &(sel* than I
a& nw) All $raise t the E&$err 8agni*i#ent0/
This s$ee#h+ althugh ddl( stirring in its wa(+ had gi!en
Orl# 8el#arth ti&e t &a'e $lans * his wn) He 'nelt dwn
as i* t ins$e#t the leather * his %ts+ %ut he had a hlster
stra$$ed t his leg and there was a gun in the hlster) The $is,
tl was nt nearl( as large as the ne the in2uisitr was
hlding+ %ut at this #lse range the di**eren#e hardl( &attered)
As 8el#arth drew his stu%gun+ thugh+ the &an he had
#alled Ragan swi!elled and sht hi&)
There was $lent( * ti&e then *r H(#illa t $i#' u$ her
'ni*e+ and she #uld ha!e 'illed the drea&er as well as the
in2uisitr+ %ut she &ade n &!e at all)
Orl# 8el#arth had ti&e t l' dwn+ in utter astnish,
&ent+ at the hle in his lwer a%d&en %e*re the
&&entu& * the i&$a#t %wled hi& !er) He #ru&$led
slwl( t a sitting $sitin+ and l'ed *r a &&ent r tw
as i* he &ight hld n t that $sitin lng enugh t *ire his
wn wea$n , %ut the wund+ thugh %( n &eans instantl(
&rtal+ was t $ain*ul)
Tin( as it was+ the weight * the stu%gun dragged his hand
dwn+ and the g!ernr sagged n t his side) S&e re*le-
&ade hi& draw his 'nees u$ twards his #hest+ s that he la(
in a 2uasi,*etal $sitin) His le*t hand #lut#hed at his wund
as i* t ste& the *lw * %ld+ while the right re&ained ut,
stret#hed+ the little gun still stu%%rnl( #len#hed in its *ist)
/Nw+/ said the in2uisitr+ du%tless i&agining that he a#tu,
all( $ssessed the authrit( that he had .ust e-erted) /Let/s see
what #an %e dne a%ut re#ti*(ing the disastrus situatin *
this sad+ &ad and tainted wrld) E!en i* it $r!es t %e an in!i,
tatin t E-ter&inatus+ at least we shall ha!e dne ur dut( t
the E&$err+ and t 8an'ind0/
<
TWENT9,FI=E
7ATIIAN FOUN7+ s&ewhat t his sur$rise+ that he was n lnger
*a#e dwn in the &ud) He thught *r a &&ent r tw that
he &ust ha!e drwned)
On#e+ when he had %een !er( s&all+ his &ther had insisted
n $la#ing hi& ne#',dee$ in a tu% * water in rder t &a'e
hi& #lean) An entire tu% * water was a rare thing in the !illage+
where it rarel( rained enugh e!en in the winter t 'ee$ the
water,twer and the #lle#ting,%utts hal*,*ull+ %ut su#h was the
wa(wardness * the weather that e!er( *i*th r si-th su&&er
wuld %ring a !er( !ilent str&+ when a whle &nth/s rain
wuld *all in a &atter * hurs+ #reating a te&$rar( glut)
Althugh su#h str&s #uld %e disastrus *r the #r$s in the
*ield , and e!en &re s i* the lightning ass#iated with a
str& ha$$ened t stri'e a that#hed r* r the water,twer ,
the !illage had its age,ld #ust&s *r dealing with the li2uid
sur$lus+ ne * whi#h was /%athing the #hildren/)
At *irst+ the (ung 7athan had dee$l( resented the
dis#&*rt * this ritual+ %ut when he had tired * #r(ing he
%egan t *ind that the e-$erien#e had its interesting *eatures)
Be#ause he was s !er( s&all and the tu% s #a$a#ius+ he
#uld a#tuall( li*t his *eet *r& the %tt& *r a &&ent r
tw while *lailing his ar&s t 'ee$ his head a%!e the sur*a#e
, and when he did that+ he see&ed t %e#&e weightless) It
was a $e#uliarl( $leasant sensatin+ %ut he had %een te&$ted
t !er,indulgen#e+ and n ne ##asin he had &issed his
*ting when he had atte&$ted t regain a standing $sitin)
His *eet had sli$$ed+ his head had gne under the water+ and
he had #&$letel( lst his %earings) He had *lailed his ar&s
&re des$eratel(+ %ut instead * %ringing his head %a#' t the
sur*a#e the he#ti# &!e&ents had a#tuall( see&ed t hld hi&
under , and when he $ened his &uth t s#rea& it was
instantl( *illed with sa$(+ s#u&&( water)
His &ther had $ulled hi& ut+ * #urse+ and had held hi&
u$side,dwn until he #ughed the water ut * his lungs , and
when the ne-t $$rtunit( t %athe the #hildren #a&e arund
he was s %ig that he #uld hardl( *it in the tu% at all , %ut
there had %een an instant in %etween his *all and his sal!atin
when ti&e had see&ed t st$ and his a$$arent weightlessness
had %een translated int s&ething &re $r*und4 a %u(,
an#( that was * the sul as well as * the %d() When his
&ther had tld hi& a*terwards that he had nearl( drwned+
he had i&&ediatel( #nne#ted the un*a&iliar wrd with that
&&ent ut * ti&e and that all,en#&$assing sensatin *
%eing %u(ant and adri*t+ nt &erel( in a %athtu% %ut within
the great sea * e-isten#e)
Nw+ ha!ing let the &ud * %ld and sil int his unwar(
&uth+ and ha!ing su#'ed it dwn int his a!id lungs in s$ite
* his e!er( re*le-+ 7athan *elt that he was drwning again ,
%ut nw that he was a &an and nt an in*ant+ he 'new that
drwning was a 'ind * d(ing)
He was nt a*raid * d(ing) He had alread( *allen n#e n
a *ield * %attle+ thin'ing hi&sel* dead+ s he 'new , r
thught he 'new , that d(ing was a great deal easier than
s&e $e$le #lai&ed) But his *irst e-$erien#e * nt,2uite,
drwning and his &re re#ent e-$erien#e * nt,2uite,d(ing
turned ut t %e &re rele!ant t his $resent #ir#u&stan#es
than he i&agined) He *igured ut a*ter ten r twent( se#nds
had ela$sed that he was neither drwned nr dead+ %e#ause
s&ething else had ste$$ed int the rle his &ther had
$la(ed when he was a !er( little #hild+ and had $lu#'ed hi&
ut * the su**#ating &ud and sha'en the sti*ling li2uid
*r& his lungs)
That s&ething held hi& tightl( #las$ed within an enr,
&us #law+ whse talns were #urled arund his shulders and
his thighs) It was as i* he were a &use snat#hed *r& the
grund %( the #law * an wl r an eagle , %ut nt as $re()
Nt+ at an( rate+ as an( rdinar( $re()
Breathing was a great deal &re $ain*ul than drwning+ *r
a while+ .ust as li!ing was a great deal &re $ain*ul than an(
'ind * d(ing he had (et #&e near t+ %ut he was grate*ul
ne!ertheless) In an( #ase+ he had ne!er e-$e#ted t %e a%le t
*l(+ and the *a#t that he was *l(ing nw see&ed t %e ne &re
$ri!ilege t add t his li*e+ ne &re %lessing t #unt %e*re
the a-e * destin( *inall( *ell u$n his s#rawn( ne#')
He #uld nt see what it was that had snat#hed hi& u$ *r&
the %attle*ield+ %e#ause its starshadw was t !ast+ %ut he
'new what it was+ and the nl( 2uestin it ##urred t hi& t
as' was4 Wh(6
Wh( nt6 was the nl( answer he re#ei!ed , r thught he
had re#ei!ed) He had n talent+ and #uld nt #nne#t his #n,
s#iusness t Sathrael+ %ut he had %een tu#hed %( the
dae&n+ and there was a se#ret $art * hi& that was #nne#ted
&re se#urel( than he #uld i&agine)
Withut Ga!aln t #hannel the dae&n/s nas#ent intelli,
gen#e int s$ee#h there was n wa( 7athan #uld hear
Sathrael/s wrds+ %ut the $art * its sensatins that was
%e(nd and %eneath wrds !er*lwed dire#tl( int that $art *
7athan/s inner %eing whi#h was #&$unded ut * the %asest
instin#ts and e&tins)
With this ad!antage+ 7athan 'new well enugh where he was
and what he was %e#&ing+ e!en thugh the #ns#ius $art *
hi&sel* , the $art that he thught * as his essential sel* ,
re&ained distin#t4 a &ere s$e#tatr)
That s$e#tatr wat#hed the %attle *r& n high) Althugh he
was lst in shadw he #uld still see &u#h * what was ha$,
$ening n the grund+ al%eit *it*ull() He saw it %( the light *
thse sear#hlights that still shne+ the lightning,*lashes *
I&$erial wea$ns+ and the eerie illu&inatin that had a#ti,
!ated the %anners and standards that were his wn side/s &st
$wer*ul wea$ns) He saw &u#h that he had %een una%le t
see while he rde t the %attle n his #lured steed) He saw
the stlen tru#'s used as %attering,ra&s+ s&ashing sui#idall(
int I&$erial tan's) He saw #la'ed assassins wr&ing their
wa( thrugh the dar' ran's * the I&$erial !ehi#les+ e!ading
the attentin * the &assed tr$s) He saw the s#a!engers &!,
ing in t sei1e the wea$ns dr$$ed %( I&$erial !i#ti&s *
%rutal &agi#+ then #arr(ing the& %a#' t su$$l( Ga!aln/s
reser!es) He saw the sur!i!ing hrses using their hrns as
wea$ns t la#erate the *a#es * ene&( sldiers r t dise&,
%wel *allen &en)
He saw #n*usin4 a !ast and he#ti# !rte- * !ilen#e and
hatred+ whi#h wuld ha!e %een $ure unadulterated #has had
it nt %een *r the dis#i$line and rder * the I&$erial ar&( ,
whi#h nw see&ed nt &erel( a $ssessr * &a#hines %ut a
&a#hine in its wn right4 a &ega&a#hine * wheels within
wheels within wheels+ whse in!isi%le #gs and le!ers were the
$rdu#e * rgani1atin and the stri#t di!isins * la%ur and
authrit()
The &agi#ians against whi#h that &ega&a#hine was arra(ed
were in*initel( &re #lur*ul+ %ut *r& the height at whi#h
7athan was nw a%le t %ser!e the( were li'e &aggts
swar&ing in a #ar#ase+ rand&l( and sel*,%sessi!el(+ &!ed
%( a %lind deter&inatin t sur!i!e4 &ere at&s * greed)
Nw+ 7athan was a%le t see Ca!aln the Great *r what he
reall( was+ at the *ull e-tensin * a sr#erer/s #a$a%ilities) He
#uld see the %lasts * the withering e(e as the( shri!elled the
*lesh n the %nes * Ga!aln/s atta#'ers+ swee$ing in &a.esti#
ar#s a#rss ne *re*rnt a*ter anther) He #uld see the e**e#ts
* the hrn * agn( t , althugh he #uld nt hear the nte
it sunded , *ar &re #learl( than he had had the $$rtunit(
t d at the *ar&huse) He saw the wa( in whi#h it redu#ed
&en t $ain,ra#'ed $u$$ets+ usur$ing #ntrl * the ner!es
whi#h trans&itted signals *r& their %rains t their li&%s and
*lding thse ner!es with %lasts * $ure hell)
With wea$ns li'e these at his dis$sal+ Ca!aln &ight ha!e
%een re#'ned in!in#i%le+ %ut 7athan saw that the &atter was
nt s si&$le) The great &a.rit( * &en+ he *elt sure+ wuld
ha!e %een $etri*ied %( hrrr and *ear at the $rs$e#t * *adng
su#h de!i#es) Whle ar&ies+ thus threatened+ &ight ha!e turned
tail and run in $ani# , %ut the I&$erial ar&(+ n &atter hw
&an( generatins re&!ed it was *r& its authenti# riginal+
was the inheritr * traditins that in*r&ed and #n!in#ed its
indi!idual sldiers that this 'ind * he#ti# destru#tin &ust %e
$$sed at all #sts+ #he#'ed and %literated)
The I&$erial sldiers were well trained+ %ut there was s&e,
thing &re than &ere training in their re*usal t %e
inti&idated and their re*usal t %e $ani#,stri#'en) These were
&en wh 'new what 'ind * wea'ness $ani# was+ and wh
were deter&ined nt t gi!e in t it) 8en died in dr!es tr(ing
t rea#h Ga!aln+ wh see&ed *r a while t %e untu#ha%le
%( an( *ire the( dis$at#hed in his dire#tin+ %ut thse wh
#a&e %ehind the &en wh died did nt st$ tr(ing+ and the(
did nt st$ *iring)
7athan understd+ while he wat#hed the I&$erial *r#es la(
siege t Ga!aln/s $sitin+ what the sr#erer had &eant , r+
t %e &re $re#ise+ what the dae&n using Ga!aln/s !i#e
had &eant , when it had said that the I&$erial sldiers were
the true heres) The( were heres %e#ause the( #uld &aintain
dis#i$line e!en in the *a#e * the *r#es * Chas3 the( were
heres %e#ause the( wuld g t an( lengths t hld %a#'
thse *r#es) The( did nt #hse t d it+ %e#ause the( did nt
#hse3 the( did what the( did ut * ne#essit() And in the end+
their ne#essit( was enugh t $ut a sta( t all Ca!aln/s wit and
tri#'er( and raw *r&less $wer)
7athan saw Ga!aln hit %( %ullets+ again and again) He saw
the sr#erer ra#ing this wa( and that+ ha#'ing with his &assi!e
%lade+ using all his $wers * de#e$tin t a!id re$risal)
7athan #uld nt #unt the nu&%er * &en Ga!aln 'illed %(
&eans * his !arius all(s * &agi# and %rute strength+ %ut he
#uld and did &easure the $hases * Ca!aln/s gradual e-haus,
tin as the sr#erer used u$ his resur#es)))
And his ene&ies 'e$t #&ing at hi&)
7athan realised+ e!entuall(+ that the reasn he #uld see all
this s #learl( was that the dae&n was interested , %e#ause
their $artl(,&agi#al $er#e$tins were shared e!en thugh their
thughts and #ns#ius res$nses were nt) The dae&n was
interested in Ca!aln , %ut the dae&n did nt intend t hel$
hi&) The dae&n and its &a'er had alwa(s intended that
Ga!aln shuld die) Sathrael and its &a'er did nt intend
that the de*ender * Gul1a#andra shuld die easil(+ %ut it had
n interest at all in the $ssi%ilit( * his sal!atin)
The nl( $ersn Sathrael had $lu#'ed *r& the %attle*ield
was 7athan) It had nt dne s+ 7athan $resu&ed+ in rder t
sa!e hi&+ %ut &erel( as a &atter * re*le-4 a #asual result *
their #han#e #nne#tin) 7u%tless there had %een s&ething
* that in the wa( his &ther had snat#hed hi& *r& the %ath,
tu% s &an( (ears %e*re+ %ut his &ther had a#ted in rder t
sa!e hi&+ %e#ause his &ther l!ed hi&)
Fr Sathrael+ l!e was nt an issue)
7athan had %een #lse enugh t Ga!aln and Ca!aln/s
thrall,wi1ards+ al%eit %rie*l(+ t ha!e a gd idea * what
Ga!aln had e-$e#ted * the dae&n *r whse ad!ent he had
s #are*ull( $re$ared the wa() Ga!aln had e-$e#ted the dae,
&n t deli!er Gul1a#andra *r& the I&$erial threat and t
sa!e the wrshi$$ers * Gul1a#andra/s gd *r& annihilatin
%( the e&$ire) Ga!aln had e-$e#ted hel$ in his wn struggle+
his wn war against ad!ersit() Perha$s he had alwa(s 'nwn
that the gd whse *a!ur he sught was nt a &therl( gd ,
nt a l!ing gd+ $erha$s nt e!en an hnest gd , %ut he had
%elie!ed ne!ertheless that he was entitled t as' *r hel$ in his
hur * need+ and that he had s&e right t e-$e#t that hel$
wuld #&e)
7athan understd nw that this e-$e#tatin had %een an
utter illusin) Sathrael was here a%ut its wn %usiness) It had
#&e t #ast its !ast shadw !er the %attle*ield nt t render
assistan#e %ut t %tain it) The slaughter n the grund was
hel$ing t e&$wer Sathrael+ and t aid its *urther &eta&r,
$hsis+ *ar &re e**e#ti!el( than all the %i1arre *dstu**s that
Ni&ian had #nsu&ed)
Fr& the !iew$int * Sathrael , the !iew$int 7athan
nw shared+ althugh he had ne!er as'ed *r an( su#h *a!ur
, all the deaths that were su**ered dwn %elw were sa#ri*i#es+
and it did nt &atter in the least within the s#he&e * whi#h
Sathrael was a $art+ whi#h side the d(ing &en were n)
/Sa#ri*i#es will #&e+> Ni&ian had said+ while he was still &re
!essel than $ssessr) /Sa#ri*i#es will #&e) I will %ring shi$s)/
Ga!aln had wanted t %e Ga!aln the Great) He had dared
t as$ire t a 'ind * dae&nhd hi&sel*) He had #hsen t
%e#&e a #ha&$in * Chas , %ut all that the gd he wr,
shi$$ed had wanted * hi& was sa#ri*i#e4 the sa#ri*i#e * his
wn *lesh3 and * his wn li*e3 and+ in the $r#ess+ the sa#ri*i#e
* thusands * ther li!es)
That Ga!aln/s gd had $r!ed t %e a trea#herus gd
wuld nt ha!e sur$rised Ga!aln+ s it did nt sur$rise
7athan , %ut what did sur$rise 7athan was the sheer hunger
* Ga!aln/s gd *r *er!ent destru#tin)
This was what Sathrael was+ he realised4 an instru&ent *
destru#tin) An( distin#tin it &ade %etween its wn #re,
atr/s wrshi$$ers and their i&$la#a%le ene&ies was $urel(
ta#ti#al) Ga!aln/s gd had su#h a $wer*ul a$$etite *r
destru#tin that e!en wrlds were * &erel( ta#ti#al signi*i,
#an#e) Ca!aln/s gd had a hunger that wuld nt %e
a$$eased e!en i* the whle uni!erse were t %e #nsu&ed)
And the nl( thing that std in the wa( * that #n,
su&$tin was the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind)
7athan saw Ca!aln die+ and understd the &eaning *
his death) He saw and understd it %e#ause the dae&n *
whi#h he had unwittingl( %e#&e a $art was interested in
%th the *a#t and the signi*i#an#e * Ca!aln/s death , nt
%e#ause that $arti#ular death was * an( uni2ue i&$rtan#e+
%ut &erel( %e#ause the dae&n+ in %e#&ing in#arnate in
the &aterial wrld+ had a#2uired the a%ilit( t %e interested+
and had %een delighted t ##u$( s&e tin( *ra#tin *
itsel* in the e-er#ise * that a%ilit()
In d(ing+ Ga!aln the Great %e#a&e &erel( Ga!aln the
Hideus) With all his sr#erus $wer e-hausted+ the %ullets
e&%edded in his trans*r&ed *lesh %egan t ta'e their tll)
He &ust ha!e %een %leeding internall( and e-ternall( *r&
a d1en di**erent wunds+ %ut still he 'e$t hi&sel* ere#t and
still he slashed t the right and le*t with his awes&e %lade)
Nw+ thugh+ his thrusts were #lea!ing e&$t( air+ una%le t
*ind targets that had s&ehw usur$ed his talent *r e!a,
sin)
His hrri%le e(es were a*la&e with rage and hate+ %ut there
was n lnger an(thing withering in his ga1e) I* an(thing+
the $$site was true4 the sight * his &nstrus *a#e+ nw
agni1ed in its wn turn+ ga!e heart t his atta#'ers and
&ade the& all the &re deter&ined t sht r #ut hi&
dwn)
In the end+ it a#tuall( #a&e t #utting) The I&$erial sl,
dier wh 'illed hi& had run ut * a&&unitin *r his
ri*le+ %ut that had nt *r#ed hi& t *all %a#' r 2uail
%e*re a$$arentl( su$erir strength , and the #r( * tri,
u&$h that he let ut as he sla&&ed his wn %lade dee$
int Ga!aln/s %reast+ s'ewering the sr#erer/s heart+ tld
e!er(ne within earsht that he 'new e-a#tl( what he had
dne)
But still the shadw * the dae&n la( u$n the& %th+
a##unting the sa#ri*i#es that &ight &a'e the sldier/s little
!i#tr( wrse than irrele!ant)
7athan had alread( re#n#iled hi&sel*+ s *ar as he #uld+ t
the 'nwledge that he wuld %e unli'el( t sur!i!e the #lash
* I&$erial and Gul1a#andran *r#es) His &ther was $r%a,
%l( dead alread(+ his !illage e**e#ti!el( destr(ed+ his li*e
#&$rehensi!el( %lighted) He wed his wn #ntinued sur,
!i!al entirel( t the whi& * *ate that had intrdu#ed hi& t
the =essel *Sathrael) He 'new that H(#illa had %een right t
.udge that e!er( &&ent * li*e the( en.(ed a*ter their #a$,
ture at the $l was $r*it) Nw+ thugh+ he %egan t du%t
that re#n#iliatin and re#al#ulate that $r*it)
I* the wrld is nl( what I see+ 7athan thught+ then it dies
with &e) I need nt #are a%ut what ha$$ens t it when I a&
gne) I* it has alread( lst e!er(thing I #are a%ut+ that is all
the &re reasn *r disregarding its *ate) E!en H(#illa is n
lnger the $ersn I n#e l!ed3 she is a $art * the dae&n
nw+ &re inti&atel( %und t it than I) But a hu&an %eing
is nt &erel( his wn li*e) He is the $rdu#t * his *a&il(+ his
!illage+ his wrld and the entire histr( * the hu&an ra#e) He
is heir t all that lega#(+ and i* he is t #unt hi&sel* trul(
hu&an he &ust a##e$t a res$nsi%ilit( t all the heirs that are
(et t #&e) I* a &an is reall( a &an+ he #annt ta'e the !iew
that it des nt &atter what ha$$ens a*ter he is dead) He #an,
nt #ease t #are+ &erel( %e#ause he is d&ed)
I a& within the dae&n and the dae&n is within &e+ and
I wuld %e dead were that nt the #ase+ %ut i* I a& a &an &(
#n#ern is &an'ind+ nt the dae&n , and I a& a &an) I a&
nt an in*ant in danger * drwning+ nr a %( e-#luded *r&
the se#rets * his $e$le) I a& a &an) All the &en wh are
d(ing dwn %elw are heirs t the heritage that &ade &e a
&an+ and their sa#ri*i#e is &( sa#ri*i#e+ n &atter what un#n,
s#ius i&$ulse &ade the shadw snat#h &e int itsel*) The
dae&n/s hunger is nt &( hunger+ and ne!er shuld %e an(
&an/s hunger+ %e#ause it is a hunger intent n de!uring
hu&anit( itsel*+ whi#h e!er( &an wh is a &an is %und t
resist)
It was a *ine s$ee#h+ 7athan thught+ e!en i* it had t %e
issued silentl(+ with nt a hu&an ear t hear it) But what did
it &atter+ gi!en that it #uld ha!e n #nse2uen#e r se2uel6
What was it %ut s &u#h wasted thught+ s &u#h wasted
anguish6
What+ gi!en his $arad-i#al nature and situatin+ #uld he
$ssi%l( d6
<
TWENT9,SIA
E=EN THOUGH IT wuld %e a gra!e ta#ti#al &ista'e *r the ene&(
t atta#' the $sitins he had #hsen t hld until 8el#arth/s
air#ra*t arri!ed+ lerius Ful%ra had ta'en e!er( ratinal $re#au,
tin against the $ssi%ilit( * %eing ta'en %( sur$rise) When
the ene&( did #&e at hi&+ his &en were ade2uatel( *re,
warned and the( t' u$ their $sitins withut dela() As the
ene&( *r#e swe$t *rward+ there*re+ the( ran int a !erita%le
hurri#ane * gun*ire4 gun*ire *ar &re de!astating than an(,
thing the &e&%ers * Ga!aln/s ragged ar&( #uld e!er ha!e
i&agined+ let alne e-$erien#ed)
At *irst+ when Ful%ra t' u$ his wn $sitin in the %ell( *
a tall,turreted tan'+ he assu&ed that the #harge was a gra!e ta#,
ti#al &ista'e+ %& * a *ailure * i&aginatin) He was a%le t
%ser!e the atta#' thrugh a $eris#$e+ whi#h he had nl( t
&!e thrugh thirt( degrees in either dire#tin in rder t
%tain a $anra&i# s#an * the entire *rnt) B( the sear#hlights
* his *irst de*ensi!e line * ar&ured !ehi#les he #uld see the
e**e#ts that his initial %arrages had n the ene&(+ and *und
the& &st satis*a#tr()
The ene&(/s a%surd #a!alr( $r!ed a sur$risingl( &er#urial
target+ riding thrugh the %li11ard * shells with astnishing
lu#'+ %ut the in*antr(&en *llwing in their wa'e a%sr%ed a
*ull &easure * sh#' and shra$nel) The( dr$$ed li'e *lies+
and the *irst tw hundred (ards * grund the( #rssed a*ter
the guns $ened u$ #st the& #asualties s hea!( that Ful%ra
al&st #a&e t %elie!e that !i#tr( wuld %e his within
&inutes) It was nt until his line * sight was %l#'ed %( his
wn hea!( &etal+ as the re&aining atta#'ers #a&e #lse
enugh t %e e#li$sed %( the ran's * ar&ur drawn u$
%e*re the& li'e a wall+ that the %alan#e * the %attle %egan
t tilt)
The three radi $eratrs &anning the !- a$$aratus at the
*rnt * the narrw #a%in were silent t %egin with+ ha!ing nei,
ther new rders t trans&it nr urgent re$rts t re#ei!e+ %ut as
sn as the $re,set de*ensi!e $lan was stret#hed t its li&it
re$rts * #asualties %egan t tri#'le in , and it did nt ta'e
lng *r the tri#'le t %e#&e a *ld)
Ful%ra/s tw #lnels,in,#hie* had a rugh,and,read( s'et#h,
&a$ * the I&$erial $sitins) It had %een &ade $urel( as a
&atter * rutine+ %ut the *a#t that the atta#' had %egun was
a&$le $r* that the insisten#e * rutine was a !er( !alua%le
asset)
Ful%ra ta$$ed the &a$ three ti&es+ sa(ing4 Their #a!alr(
see&s t %e s$lit int three &ain #ntingents) These will %e the
stress,$ints i* their lu#' #ntinues t hld) Strengthen the se#,
nd lines at all three $sitins+ and %e sure that we #an $lug
the ga$s twi#e !er i* an( de!el$)/
Ha&era and 7ia&%r had n e-$erien#e * large,s#ale
de*ensi!e &aneu!res3 all * their relati!el( !ast e-$erien#e was
* atta#'s+ sieges and #hases+ with nthing &re %( wa( *
re$risal than hast( and ine**e#ti!e a&%ushes) The( had+ hw,
e!er+ #arried ut &an( e-er#ises+ in the *ield as well as n the
ga&ing ta%le+ and the( 'new hw t $ut their learning int
$ra#ti#e) The !- $eratrs %egan #hattering awa( t the *ield
#&&anders+ #n#entrating the I&$eriu&/s *r#es in su$$rt
* the $sitins that see&ed &st !ulnera%le) It was nw that
in*r&atin %egan t #&e %a#' a%ut #asualties in*li#ted %(
ene&( sr#er()
/The( ha!e s&e 'ind * *ire,generating a$$aratus+/
7ia&%r/s $eratr said+ /and there/s s&ething that #an dr(
the *lesh n a &an/s %nes+ su#'ing all the &isture and li*e
ut * hi&)/
/Hw are the( generating the e**e#ts6/ Ful%ra wanted t 'nw)
/It/s s&ething t d with illu&inated *lags+/ Ha&era/s &an
said) /8a(%e the *lags are .ust signals r &ar'ers+ %ut the( see&
t %e #lsel( ass#iated with the sur#es * destru#tin)/
/Order the sni$ers t ta'e ut the %anner,#arriers+/ Ha&era
said+ instantl() /Get *la&e,thrwers trained n the %anners
the&sel!es) I/!e seen su#h de!i#es used in "enda&ra+ thugh
ne!er &re than ne at a ti&e) The(/re li&ited in range)/
Ful%ra had %een %rie*ed n the %anners+ nt &erel( %( his
wn &en and thse wh had gne int the *ield %e*re the&
%ut %( Ragan Bal%erith/s drug,assisted $s('ers) He 'new that
the %anners #uld %e #untered , %ut the last &essage that had
%een re#ei!ed *r& the $art( sent ut t sear#h *r reli#s *
O$eratin Pr%e had nt &entined %anners at all)
The( ha!e ther de!i#es+/ he was 2ui#' t sa() /7n/t let the
gunners #n#entrate t #lsel( , we need t res$nd t the
une-$e#ted as and when it arises)/
The hea!iest #asualties see& t %e in the #entre+ here+/ said
7ia&%r/s radi &an)
Ful%ra returned i&&ediatel( t his $eris#$e+ dire#ting it t
the $la#e 7ia&%r had indi#ated) Fr a &&ent+ he #aught
sight * tw %anners hi&sel*+ ne #arr(ing an i&age * a great
talned hand with an e(e in its $al&+ the ther %earing nl(
the i&age * a !ast and *urius e(e) The %rightl(,e&%ridered
#lth * ea#h %anner shne with an eerie light+ and ea#h * the
e(es see&ed t %e e&itting a ra( shar$er than an( sear#hlight)
The lenses * the $eris#$e+ !er whi#h &an( $ra(ers had
%een said while the( were %eing $lished+ shuld ha!e $r,
te#ted Ful%ra *r& the e**e#ts * su#h &agi#+ gi!en that the
gli&$se he #aught was s %rie*+ %ut he *elt a strange sh#'wa!e
&!e thrugh his &ind+ threatening the *a%ri# * his %eing
with la#eratin r %rea'age) 7is#i$line #a&e t his aid+ thugh4
dis#i$line and *aith in the ne#essit( * his #ause) Ful%ra #uld
see well enugh that the sldiers wh l'ed dire#tl( u$n the
%anner , es$e#iall( thse wh were #lsest t it , were 2uite
una%le t $ut u$ the sa&e resistan#e)
S&e * the& std st#' still+ as i* i&&%ilised %( hrrr+
while thers #lla$sed gi%%ering+ as i* in the gri$ * irresisti%le
terrr) Nne+ the general thught+ were a#tuall( stru#' dead+
%ut he was nt #ertain that !er( &an( wuld re#!er su**i#ient
#&$sure t ta'e u$ their wea$ns again , and while the
harle2uinade * &agi#al #a!alr( still swirled arund the& li'e
s&'e+ the hel$less !i#ti&s were %eing #ut and slashed)
The gun*ire in that se#tr * the *rnt was the &st intense *
all+ and it see&ed i&$ssi%le that the %anners were still raised+
r that the h&ed hrses shuld still %e $ran#ing arund
the&+ %ut Ful%ra #uld see that their ran's were nw %eing
swelled %( thse in*antr(&en wh had #ntri!ed t &a'e their
wa( a#rss the *ield * death) Onl( a *ew had guns+ and &st *
the guns the( had were #&&n ri*les+ %ut e!en thse wh
nl( had %lades were #lse enugh t d #nsidera%le da&age
nw+ and the( were &!ing %etween and %ehind the ar&ured
!ehi#les that *r&ed the *irst line * the I&$erial de*en#e)
/Strengthen the #entre+/ Ful%ra rdered) The( #an/t $ssi%l(
ha!e &en enugh t %e tr(ing t ut*lan' us+ %ut 'ee$ reser!es
t either side in #ase the( ha!e held an(thing %a#')/
A*terwards he had t ste$ awa( *r& the instru&ent+ slightl(
di11ied %( his *irst en#unter with Gul1a#andran &agi#) Li'e
Ha&era+ he had ser!ed in "enda&ra and had en#untered
&agi# there+ %ut nl( in s&all,s#ale en#unters+ and ne!er with
s &u#h at sta'e)
/Ha!e (u l'ed at the s'(+ sir6/ 7ia&%r as'ed)
The ne thing the $eris#$e #uld nt l' at was the s'(+
and Ful%ra was te&$ted t issue an irrita%l( a%ru$t re$l( , %ut
7ia&%r was nt Ha&era+ and i* 7ia&%r wanted t draw his
attentin t s&ething+ there had t %e a reasn) The hat#h at
the t$ * the turret had %een thrwn %a#' in rder t let a lit,
tle *resh air int the %ell( * the &a#hine+ and there was a
#ir#ular $at#h * s'( !isi%le thrugh it) N &re than a d1en
stars were !isi%le t the na'ed e(e+ %ut a d1en were enugh t
let Ful%ra 'nw what 7ia&%r &eant)
The stars were nt &!ing+ and their light was white)
/Bal%erith was right+/ he &ur&ured) The war$str& has
a%ated , %ut *r hw lng6/
That &a( %e wh( the( atta#'ed+ sir+/ 7ia&%r said) The(
&ust dread the stillness * the s'( as &u#h as we dread its tur,
&il) E!en i* the( 'nw nthing * war$str&s the( &ust
'nw that the stars std still when the I&$eriu& *irst #a&e t
5ala1endra) T the&+ it &ust %e a terri%le ill &en)/
At that &&ent+ the d1en stars were a%ru$tl( e#li$sed) The(
were %s#ured *r se!eral se#nds) It was i&$ssi%le t .udge
the sha$e and si1e * the e#li$sing %.e#t *r& this narrw
!antage+ %ut the duratin * the e!ent #n!in#ed Ful%ra that
the entit( &ust %e !er( large , and #uld nt+ there*re+ %e the
air#ra*t whse arri!al he had e-$e#ted+ and whi#h see&ed t
ha!e %een dela(ed s&e ti&e a*ter &a'ing #nta#t) But i* it was
nt an air#ra*t+ what #uld it $ssi%l( %e6
There/s s&ething a%!e the %attle*ield+/ he said t his !-
$eratr) /As' the &en in the rear&st $sitin t tr( t #at#h
a gli&$se * it+ and tell &e what it l's li'e)/
The !- $eratr $assed n the rder+ and waited) The( #an/t
tell+ sir+/ he re$rted %a#'+ e!entuall() /S&e thin' it/s sha$ed
li'e a %ird+ thers li'e a *l(ing s$ider , %ut it/s da&n %ig) E!en
i* it/s nl( a *ew hundred *eet u$+ it/s %igger than an(thing that
#uld $ssi%l( get air%rne using wings) I* it/s *urther awa( ,
s&e * the &en thin' it/s ut a&ng the stars+ althugh that
see&s i&$lausi%le)/
/Culd it %e a shi$6/ Ful%ra de&anded+ urgentl() /Culd it %e
an I&$erial starshi$6/ He 'new+ e!en as he as'ed+ that it
#uldn/t $ssi%l( %e a shi$ li'e thse whse e&$t( shells were
still $rudl( dis$la(ed in Sstenut) It wuld ha!e t %e a shi$
* a !er( di**erent 'ind) But wh here n Sig&atus+ 'new hw
&an( 'inds * starshi$s there were within the I&$erial Fleet6
An( elatin t %e %tained *r& that thught+ Ful%ra
realised+ had t %e #untered with the du%t that s$rung
*r& anther4 wh+ n Sig&atus 'new hw &an( 'inds *
starshi$s there were in *leets ther than the I&$erial ne6
The lre handed dwn thrugh the last tw #enturies s$'e
* the eldar+ and *t(ranid Hi!e Fleets+ %ut n &an nw ali!e
n Sig&atus had an( #lear idea as t what thse na&es &ight
a#tuall( signi*(+ r hw &an( si&ilar na&es &ight ha!e %een
*rgtten)
At an( rate+ there had t %e a $ssi%ilit( that the shadw was
the shadw * an ene&()
/Is it *iring dwn at us6/ Ful%ra wanted t 'nw) /Or is its
$resen#e ha!ing an( &agi#al e**e#t6/ The $ssi%ilit( ##urred t
hi& then that it &ight %e the !astest and &st $wer*ul %an,
ner * the& all+ needing nl( the glare * I&$erial sear#hlights
t e-$se its aw*ul &alignit()
/Nt s *ar as the( #an tell+ sir+/ the !- $eratr re$rted) /It/s
.ust #ir#ling the %attle*ield))) as i* it were interested))) e-#e$t
that)))/
/E-#e$t that what6/
The te#h,$riests ha!e re$rted that their $s('ers are getting
!er( agitated)/
/O* #urse the( are , we/re in the &iddle * the %iggest
%attle against the hereti# *r#es * Chas this wrld has e!er
seen) 8re &agi# has %een unleashed against us in the $ast
hal* hur than the $re!ius hal*,#entur() I/& sur$rised the(
aren/t ha!ing *its)/
/Oh+ the( are+ sir , %ut the te#h,$riests #an/t &a'e an( sense
* what the(/re tr(ing t sa() N sense at all) The( thin' s&e,
thing/s wrng)/
The(/re te#h,$riests0/ Ha&era %r'e in e-dtedl() /O* #urse
the( thin' s&ething/s wrng) It is wrng , %ut we/re winning)
All $raise t the E&$err 8agni*i#ent+ we/re winning0/
Ful%ra returned t the $eris#$e+ while 7ia&%r **ered
s%er su$$rt t Ha&era/s .udg&ent) There was n sign *
either * the tw %anners with the e(e &ti*s+ nr * the e-ti#
#a!alr( that had en.(ed su#h astnishing gd *rtune in
rea#hing its *irst target) He #uld still see ene&ies standing+ %ut
ea#h was alne and ea#h was surrunded) One %( ne+ the(
were %eing #ut dwn)
The( were *ighting %a#'+ * #urse , he #uld still see his wn
sldiers *alling %a#' here and there+ s&e wunded and s&e
dead , %ut n grund was %eing gi!en u$+ and *r e!er( &an
that *ell anther $ressed *rward) The line had held+ and was
slid again) The ene&( *r#es had wasted their entire strength
in a whirlwind atta#'+ %ut the whirlwind had %lwn itsel* ut+
and there was nthing le*t * the gale nw %ut a *ew near,
e-hausted gusts)
/It/s al&st !er+ sir+/ 7ia&%r said) The( #&&itted sui#ide)/
Fr& Ha&era it wuld ha!e %een a *igure * s$ee#h+ %ut
Ful%ra 'new that 7ia&%r &eant it literall() The atta#' had
%een sui#idal4 t #harge against s &u#h ar&ur+ s #are*ull(
arra(ed+ had %een an a#t * ttal *ll() It wuld ha!e &ade *ar
&re sense+ ta#ti#all( and strategi#all(+ *r the ene&( t *ight a
#a&$aign * attritin+ te&$ting *rag&entar( #ntingents * the
I&$erial *r#es n t grund * their #hsing+ stri'ing swi*tl(
and *ading awa( int the alien *rests)
Had Ga!aln the allegedl( Great ele#ted t *ight a guerilla
war+ he &ight ha!e e-tended the %usiness * #n2uest and
su$$ressin *r (ears) In the end+ * #urse+ he #uld nt ha!e
wn , n#e su$$l(,rutes were esta%lished+ the I&$erial stri'e
*r#e #uld %e rein*r#ed+ and in#reased %( degrees t
i&$regna%ilit( , %ut he #uld ha!e &ade things *ar &re
di**i#ult)
Instead+ he had #&&itted sui#ide)
Wh(6
Fr a &&ent r tw+ Ful%ra wndered whether it e!en
&ade sense t as' 2uestins li'e wh( when dealing with sr,
#erers+ %ut that was t eas( a dis&issal) There &ust %e a sense+
hwe!er twisted+ in whi#h what Ca!aln had dne had %een
wrthwhile) Wh( had he a#ted s re#'lessl( , al&st as i* there
were n t&rrw t wrr( a%ut6
Ful%ra had n alternati!e %ut t return t the h($thesis that
it was %e#ause the stars had std still in the s'() Whate!er the
sha$e a%!e the %attle*ield &ight %e+ the wa( was #lear *r the
I&$erial Fleet t #&e t the aid * the little I&$eriu& *
Sig&atus , and i* the wa( was #lear+ Bal%erith/s $s('er &ust
ha!e gt thrugh)
Hw delighted the I&$erial #&&ander will %e+ when he
*inds ut what I ha!e dne this da(+ Ful%ra thught) That !ain
*l 8el#arth *an#ies hi&sel* the *uture ruler * a wrld+ %ut
when the I&$eriu& returns+ the( will nt %e interested in hi&)
I shall &st surel( %e the ne t rea$ the %est rewards *re#n,
ta#t) E!en Bal%erith has nl( shwn his l(alt( in $ett( wa(s+
%ut I ha!e wn a !i#tr( * e-a#tl( the 'ind that the I&$eriu&
l!es %est) I &ight (et ha!e the $$rtunit( t ser!e as a gen,
eral n a stage * stars0
The sund * gun*ire was %eginning t die awa( nw+ *ading
graduall( int silen#e)
/Sui#ide+/ 7ia&%r re$eated) /What a de%t we we the&+ in
s$ite * all the #asualties we ha!e sustained) We &ight ha!e lst
three r *i!e ti&es as &an( &en had the( &ade us wr' harder
*r their annihilatin)/
Their *lishness has alwa(s %een ur greatest strength+/
Ha&era %ser!ed) The( d nt ha!e ur dis#i$line+ ur *aith+
r ur $urit( * $ur$se)/
/Is the shadw still !isi%le in the s'(6/ Ful%ra as'ed his !-
$eratr) He was l'ing u$ at the #ir#ular $at#h * *rail
starlight+ %ut he 'new that the s'( was a &u#h !aster e-$anse
than that)
/N+ sir+/ the ther re$lied) /It see&s t ha!e gne)/
/Gd+/ said Ful%ra)
I&&ediatel(+ the d1en stars !isi%le thrugh the hat#hwa(
were e#li$sed again) Ful%ra #uld hardl( hel$ thin'ing that the
shadw had returned+ r that the %ser!ers wh had de#lared
it gne &ust %e *ls+ %ut he had &ilitar( re*le-es+ whi#h were
alread( res$nding t his danger %e*re he was #ns#iusl(
aware * it)
As the Gul1a#andran assassin dr$$ed thrugh the turret+
$ised t land n his sli$$ered *eet+ with his %lade read( t
stri'e ut at an( target within ar&/s rea#h+ Ful%ra/s right hand
snat#hed the $istl *r& the hlster at his %elt)
As the assassin landed+ Ful%ra *ired)
The &an,sha$ed shadw #ru&$led and *ell+ as i* it were
indeed n &re than a wis$ * dar'ness stra(ed *r& the in*i,
nite dar' %e(nd the sun) The 'ni*e #lattered har&lessl( t the
*lr)
I a& a her0 Ful%ra thught)
There was+ * #urse+ a sense in whi#h he had %een a her
%e*re+ t wh& the #redit *r an e$#h,&a'ing !i#tr( was
due+ %ut there was s&ething a%ut a dire#t 'ill s #leanl( e-e,
#uted whi#h had a s$e#ial heris& * its wn , s&ething+ he
*elt sure+ that e!en &en wh #&&anded starshi$s and *ught
whle wrlds wuld understand)
@Well+/ he said+ with $retentius #al&ness+ /we ha!e $lent( *
wr' t d %e*re dawn) We/d %etter &a'e read( t &!e n as
sn as that da&ned air#ra*t arri!es+ %e*re the stin' * the
dead &a'es ur $sitins un%eara%le) Sn+ the real %usiness
* e-ter&inatin will %egin)/
<
TWENT9,SE=EN
WHEN THE BATTLE was e**e#ti!el( !er and the *r#es *
Gul1a#andra had %een all %ut annihilated+ the shadw that
had lain u$n the %attle*ield $assed n+ with 7athan still
#lut#hed in its #law) Sathrael/s wings were nw s !ast that a
single %eat was all that was ne#essar( t send its huge *r&
saring high int the s'() 7athan *elt hi&sel* grwing #lder)
The air that he su#'ed int his lungs see&ed as wea' and
un*ul*illing as it was shar$ and #hill( , %ut the stars grew n
larger3 the( were t *ar awa()
N sner had it sared awa( *r& the %attle*ield than
Sathrael wheeled a%ut+ and %egan a lng gliding des#ent)
7athan #uld hear the rush * air in the dae&n/s huge
*eathered wings+ and 'new that his sensatin * weightless,
ness was &ere illusin) Sathrael was *ar *r& weightless3 its
&ass was tre&endus) Had it *allen *r& the 1enith it had
%rie*l( attained it wuld ha!e hit the grund li'e a &eter+
%lasting an enr&us #rater) While it had wings+ thugh+ it
was a gra#e*ul #reature+ and 7athan/s e(es had ad.usted well
enugh t the starlight t let hi& see the glea& * its %ra1en
$lu&age and the glint * its (ellw e(es)
Sathrael &ight ha!e %een %eauti*ul %ut *r its huge %ald
head and its &nstrus %ea'+ %ut the glea& in its e(e &ade it
see& li&itlessl( #ruel and in*initel( arrgant) There was nth,
ing * its =essel le*t nw3 Ni&ian had %een utterl( de!ured+
%d( and sul ali'e)
The di!e %e#a&e stee$er *r a little while) There were n
lights %elw the& nw t indi#ate the lie * the land+ s it
see&ed t 7athan that the( were di!ing int a !ast well *
dar'ness , %ut as Sathrael/s #urse %egan t le!el ut again
7athan #aught a gli&$se * a light n the hri1n+ *aint and
*li#'ering %ut undu%tedl( &an,&ade)
It was a gru$ * *ires+ and as Sathrael h&ed in n it+
see&ing nw t %e s'i&&ing the grund+ 7athan was a%le t
#unt the&) There were *i!e in nu&%er)
7athan realised %elatedl( that Sathrael intended t set
hi& dwn+ in rder that he &ight #arr( ut s&e s&all tas'
n the dae&n/s %ehal*) He #uld nt *latter hi&sel* with the
illusin that this was the reasn wh( Sathrael had snat#hed
hi& u$ *r& the %attle*ield) The dae&n #ertainl( did nt
need hi& in rder t #&$lete this $art * its $lan+ %ut sin#e
it had hi&+ it #ndes#ended t use hi&+ *r reasns * si&,
$li#it( and aestheti# elegan#e)
9u l!e her+ the dae&n whis$ered+ withut needing t
$rnun#e the wrds alud) I gi!e her t (u+ *r a &&ent) She
is (urs t sa!e and sa!ur)
But the dae&n 'new $er*e#tl( well that 7athan under,
std that H(#illa was n lnger the $ersn he had l!ed+ and
that whate!er he did he wuld d *r ther reasns)
7athan 'new this %e#ause it was nl( the su%#ns#ius
$art * his &ind that had *used with the dae&n+ lea!ing the
#ns#ius $art *ree) Be#ause * this+ he had the $wer t dis,
%e( i* he were s &inded) He was still the #&&ander *
his wn li&%s+ still the &aster * his wn &!e&ents , %ut
he had n intentin * asserting his indi!idualit( nw)
Whether r nt she was still the $ersn he had l!ed+ H(#illa
was H(#illa) I* she needed hi&+ he had t g t her) I* she
needed t %e sa!ed+ and he had %een granted the #han#e+
then he wuld d it)
He was e!en $re$ared t %e grate*ul *r the $$rtunit(+
'nwing that Sathrael #uld ha!e dne as &u#h itsel*+ with
#asual and #nte&$tuus ease)
I a& still a &an+ 7athan re&inded hi&sel*) I a& still
7athan+ sn * Ora+ $u$il * Pater Saltana and *riend *
H(dlla) I a& a &an and I ha!e &( $ride)
He did nt e!en stu&%le when Sathrael set hi& dwn+
althugh he had t run *ull tilt *r a d1en strides %e*re he
#uld %egin t slw hi&sel* dwn) He &anaged t a!id run,
ning int a thrn( thi#'et+ and had the $resen#e * &ind t
s'in it !er( #are*ull(+ using its %ul' t shield hi& *r& the
&a'eshi*t arena &ar'ed ut %( the *i!e *ires)
When he was a%le t #&$se hi&sel* and #ree$ #lser+ he
%tained *urther #!er *r& the wre#'age * s&e 'ind * %ig
&a#hine+ whi#h was s#attered all arund)
There were *ur $e$le within the $entagra& des#ri%ed %(
the *ires+ %ut ne * the& was %adl( hurt) He had a gunsht
wund in his %ell()
7athan had ne!er seen an( 'ind * &rtal wund until the
s'ir&ish at the *ar&huse+ %ut he had %een tld %ld,#ur,
dling stries whi#h alleged that %ell(,wunds were the wrst
* all+ %e#ause the( #aused a slw and agnising death) The
wunded &an see&ed t %e * &u#h the sa&e $inin3
althugh he had %een $r$$ed u$ in a sitting $sitin+ with
his %a#' t a s2uat #a#tus+ he did nt see& t %e ta'ing an(
nti#e * his three #&$anins) His e(es were #lsed+ and he
see&ed utterl( lst in the de$ths * his wn $redi#a&ent)
7athan #uld see that the white,*a#ed &an did nt want t
die+ and was utterl( deter&ined t #ling t what li*e he had
le*t %ut 7athan understd , $erha$s %e#ause Sathrael
understd , that he 'new *ull well hw dear the #st * his
%stina#( wuld %e)
It was hardl( sur$rising that the wunded &an had nt
nti#ed the shadw * Sathrael r *elt the wind * its wings
u$n his *e!ered *a#e+ %ut 7athan was astnished that the
ther tw &en did nt see& t understand what had $assed
the& %()
One * these ther tw &en was #learl( the r#hestratr *
whate!er ritual was %eing ena#ted) He was tall and s$are+ and
he #arried a gun in a &anner whi#h suggested that he was
&re than read( t use it) He was $a#ing %a#' and *rth i&$a,
tientl(+ 'ee$ing a #lse wat#h n all three * his #&$anins)
He &ust ha!e l'ed u$ when Sathrael $assed+ and &ust
ha!e *elt the dwndra*t * the &ight( wings+ %ut he had
alread( $ut $u11le&ent %ehind hi& in rder t *#us n the
$ri!ate &atter in hand4 the &atter * his wn intentin+ his
wn a&%itin and his wn %sessin)
It did nt see& t 7athan that H(#illa and the third &an
re2uired wat#hing an( &re than the wunded &an did) The(
t were sitting dwn+ %a#' t %a#'+ a$$arentl( 2uite &ee'l()
The( did nt a$$ear t %e in.ured+ %ut the( did see& wea'
and distant) Their ar&s hung lsel( %( their sides+ and their
e(es were hal*,#lsed and inattenti!e) I* the( had %een
drugged , and 7athan was #ertain that the( had+ $resu&a%l(
%e#ause Sathrael was #ertain , the( had #nsented t their
#nditin) Bth * the& had %een aware * Sathrael/s $as,
sage+ %ut neither had rea#ted !isi%l( r audi%l(+ ne ut *
$aral(sing terrr and ne ut * satis*ied relie*)
The( t were waiting , and 7athan had hardl( ta'en u$
his *inal hiding $la#e+ s&e twel!e r *i*teen $a#es awa(+ than
the *irst signs that their waiting was nearl( at an end %e#a&e
%!ius)
The *i!e *ires had %een %urning steadil(+ their *la&es #sil(
(ellw+ %ut nw the( %egan t #hange #lur) The ne whi#h
re&ained (ellw %e#a&e &re sul$hurus and !i!id3 the th,
ers glwed red+ %lue+ green and !ilet) Their *la&es #ra#'led
and dan#ed+ as i* their dr( *uel were %eing !igrusl( stirred
and e-#ited %( in!isi%le %ellws)
The night had %een tlera%l( war&+ %ut a sudden #ld
des#ended li'e a %lan'et3 it was al&st as i* the entire s#ene
had %een $lu#'ed u$ int that thinner air whi#h Sathrael
had %rie*l( tasted %e*re %ringing 7athan dwn t this
$e#uliar rende1!us) There was a sund * shattering glass+
althugh 7athan #uld nt see what it was that had %een
%r'en)
/Nw0/ said the &an with the gun) The &&ent is at hand
at last) Share her $wer+ 7eir) 7raw it int (u) The dse I ga!e
her will nu&% her %rain and 'ill her within the hur+ %ut
while she li!es her $wer is (urs *r the stealing) Ta'e it0 Use
it0 Bend the $wer * e!il t the #ause * gd0 The Fleet is
there3 (u ha!e nl( t #r( ut t %e heard) Cr( ut+ 7eir0
Send *rth a shut that will %e heard a#rss the light,(ears)
Bring the shi$s+ 7eir0 Bring the& at all $ssi%le s$eed) Tell
the& that we ha!e dire need * their $wer * destru#tin4
that there is #rru$tin here that needs rting ut)/
As he *inished this s$ee#h+ the tall &an 'nelt dwn %( the
&an with the %ell(,wund+ and stru#' hi& shar$l( a#rss the
*a#e) The %lw was a sla$ intended t *r#e the ther t $a(
attentin+ %ut the stri#'en &an nl( s#rewed his e(es &re
tightl( shut) The &an with the gun stru#' hi& again+ .ust as
insistentl()
/7n/t %e a*raid+ Orl#+/ the tall &an hissed) /E!er(thing will
#&e ut right) E!er(thing) Ful%ra will win his %attle+ and
7eir A.a will su&&n the Fleet t #a$italise n his !i#tr()
The Chie* In2uisitr * Sig&atus will ne!er again ha!e t run
the ris' * %eing stru#' dwn %( an assassin/s %ullet) All is well
, $raise %e t the E&$err 8agni*i#ent0 E!er(thing is in $la#e+
in#luding that lu&$ * lead sht in (ur intestines)
/I 'nw wh( (u suddenl( de#ided t #&e here+ Orl#) 9u
#a&e t #lai& the !i#tr( *r (ursel*+ t esta%lish (ursel* in
the e(es * all (ur an-ius *llwers as a &an * $wer+ a
&an * authrit(+ a &an * destin() And I 'nw wh( (u ga!e
&e a $la#e n the air#ra*t4 %e#ause (u intended t ha!e &e
'illed+ *ar *r& &( *riends in 5ala1endra) And (u intended
that 7eir shuld die t+ t &a'e sure that (u wuld ne!er
ha!e t surrender the $wer (u had wn t an( higher
authrit() But e!er(thing has #&e ut right) E!er(thing)
/9u &a( #lse (ur e(es+ Orl# 8el#arth+ i* (u will+ %ut
(u #annt shut ut the 'nwledge * what is ha$$ening
here) Can (u nt *eel it in the air6 Can (u nt *eel the edge4
the $wer t #lea!e thrugh the aw*ul densit( * s$a#e and
ti&e6 Can (u nt hear the !i#e * the in*ant wrld s#rea&,
ing *r its $rte#ti!e $arent6 Can (u nt see+ e!en within the
dar'ness * (ur wn &ind+ the ruinatin * all (ur drea&s
and a&%itins , all (ur #rru$ted drea&s and a&%itins6 I
'nw that (u #an+ Orl#) I 'nw that (u #an)/
While the tall &an was ra!ing in this &anner 7athan *i-ed
his wn e(es n the tw wise,drea&ers , *r he did nt need
the su%tle in*luen#e * Sathrael/s intelligen#e t 'nw that
the &an with wh& H(#illa sat %a#' t %a#' &ust %e ne *
the I&$eriu&/s wise,drea&ers)
H(#illa still see&ed stu$e*ied+ %ut 2uite rela-ed) The &an+
%( #ntrast+ was as straight as a ra&rd nw+ and his ar&s
were n lnger hanging lse %( his sides) Instead+ the( were
$ssessed %( what &ust ha!e %een a $ain*ul rigidit( , and
the ra#',intensi*ied tautness that had ta'en $ssessin * his
%d( was %!iusl( internal as well as e-ternal+ %e#ause his
nse had %egun t %leed and his *a#e was aglw with a light
s !ilet as al&st t #nstitute a new #lur nr&all( in!is,
i%le t hu&an e(es) His e(es+ whi#h glwed %rightest * all+
had %egun t #urdle3 the( were all white nw+ ha!ing lst
e!er( !estige * iris and $u$il) 7athan had t su$$se that
the I&$erial drea&er , 7eir A.a+ as the ranting &an had
na&ed hi& , &ust ha!e gne %lind+ and wuld ne!er see
again)
When the %lind drea&er %egan t &utter+ the tall &an
i&&ediatel( %r'e ** his taunting and s#uttled %a#' t $la#e
his ear #lse t the ther &an/s li$s)
The wa( is #lear+/ the %lind &an was sa(ing) The wa( is #lear
and the need is great) Here is a wrld that #ries ut *r
rede&$tin) Here is a wrld that re2uires reunin with the
#&&unit( * &an'ind) Here is a wrld in need * I&$erial
wea$nr( and I&$erial dis#i$line) Here is a wrld * suls in
need * sal!atin+ a wrld * suls whi#h (earn t ser!e the
E&$err in e!er( wa( $ssi%le and in e!er( wa( #n#ei!a%le+
a wrld * suls whi#h $leads *r su##ur in the *a#e * a ter,
ri%le threat+ a wrld whi#h #ries &a(da(+ &a(da(+ &a(da(+
&a(d)))/
Presu&a%l(+ the wrld *r whi#h 7eir A.a dared t s$ea'
wuld ha!e #ntinued #r(ing ut the sa&e un*a&iliar wrd
*r s&e ti&e lnger had nt s&ething in!isi%le #lut#hed at
the wise,drea&er/s thrat+ #h'ing %a#' the s(lla%les and
#ausing his e(es t %ulge ut * his head) Fa& *le#'ed the
#rners * his &uth)
The tall &an $ut the stu%gun t H(#illa/s head+ sa(ing4
/7n/t *ight hi&+ wit#h0 He/s a%ut the E&$err/s %usiness)
Let hi& lee#h (ur $wer+ and dn/t e!en tr( t su%!ert his #r(
*r hel$+ r I/ll %lw (ur %rains ut nw) There/s nthing (u
#an d) The &essage is thrugh+ and the shi$s will #&e)
There/s nthing (u #an d)/
7athan 'new that the tall &an was %adl( &ista'en) He
'new what was reall( ha$$ening here) He had seen &re *
the ga&e than an(ne else , &re e!en than Sathrael+ *r all
that Sathrael had the $wer t ea!esdr$ n the thughts *
an( &an r w&an in the wrld)
7athan had seen &re %e#ause he had li!ed+ and Sathrael
had nt) 7athan had nt had the $wer * thught thrust
u$n hi&+ as a %rie* and *as#inating gi*t3 he had grwn int
thught as its natural heir) N &atter what $wers * intelli,
gen#e Sathrael &ight ha!e+ the dae&n had nthing t guide
the& %ut &&entar( whi& and #asual re*le-) 7athan 'new
hw ignrant he was %( #&$arisn with this I&$erial &ad,
&an+ and hw li&ited his $wers * reasning were+ %ut he
was a &an+ and he understd the enduring realit( * &ind ,
* h$e+ * enduran#e+ * desire+ * #&&it&ent+ * *ur(+ *
tran2uillit(+ * sel*,sustenan#e and sel*,*ul*il&ent , *ar %etter
than an( dae&n e!er #uld)
Fr this reasn+ it was 7athan+ nt the sharer in his &re
$ri&iti!e %eing+ wh understd the wa( in whi#h the ga&e
was nw %eing $la(ed , and what was at sta'e)
7athan als understd that the tall &an was !er( li'el( t
#arr( ut his threat+ and %lw H(#illa/s %rains ut+ %e*re she
#uld #lle#t hersel* and &a'e use * the gi*t that he had
unwittingl( **ered her) 7athan was $re$ared t assu&e that
H(#illa &ight n lnger %e hu&an enugh t %e destr(ed %(
the #al#ulated !erdse * the drug that she had %een *ed+ %ut
he 'new that she was still hu&an enugh t %e 'illed %( a
%ullet in the %rain)
7athan had n wea$n+ %ut he had the ad!antage * sur,
$rise)
When 7athan s$rinted *rward+ the &an with the gun nei,
ther saw nr heard hi&) Sur$risingl(+ the wunded &an did ,
indeed+ he $ened his e(es as i* n #ue+ *#using the& i&&e,
diatel( n the running *igure , %ut Orl# 8el#arth ne!er e!en
#nsidered the $ssi%ilit( * #alling ut a warning t the rant,
ing &an) He was $er*e#tl( #ntent t wat#h)
7athan #annned int the tall &an with all the &&entu&
he #uld &uster+ &eeting hi& shulder t shulder) His
$$nent was *ar taller than he+ and #nsidera%l( hea!ier in
s$ite * his leanness %ut the #ru#ial *a#tr was that his $$,
nent was unread( and **,%alan#e) The i&$a#t sent hi&
s$rawling+ and the stu%gun *lew ut * his hand+ s'idding
awa( in the lse dust3 it did nt #&e t halt until it was *i!e
r si- (ards awa(+ nearer t the wunded &an/s e-tended *t
than his wn #n!ulsi!el( #len#hing *ist)
What the tall &an shuld ha!e dne was t di!e *r the gun
i&&ediatel(+ while 7athan was still reeling *r& the a*ter,
e**e#ts * the i&$a#t) He #uld nt ha!e rea#hed it
un#hallenged+ %ut he had %( *ar the lnger rea#h and he &ight
ha!e held 7athan at %a( *r a *ew $re#ius se#nds while he
$i#'ed u$ the wea$n) What he did instead+ %etra(ed %( his
re*le-es r his %ad .udg&ent+ was t hurl hi&sel* at 7athan+
#n*ident that a &an as strng as he #uld &aster and !er,
$wer an( &ere %()
The ranting &an #uld nt hel$ %ut thin' * 7athan as a
&ere %(+ in s$ite * all that had ha$$ened in the last tw
da(s) He #uld nt 'nw what strength 7athan nw had , %ut
7athan nl( needed ne &re %a#'ward ste$ and a hal*,turn
t %alan#e hi&sel* again and &a'e hi&sel* read( *r a war *
*ists and *eet) When the tall &an tried t s&ash hi& dwn
with a %lw t the head he du#'ed under it+ and he ra&&ed
his wn *ist int the ther &an/s &idri** with all the $wer
that wrath #uld gi!e hi&)
7athan did nt ha!e &ass enugh in his ar& and shulder
t $ut his $$nent dwn+ %ut he #ertainl( hurt hi& and $ut
hi& direl( ill at ease) Althugh the tall &an $r&$tl( lashed
ut again+ his %lw was wild and easil( a!ided , %ut when
7athan laun#hed his *t int the tall &an/s grin the 'i#'
was $er*e#tl( &easured)
7athan had regretted tw &issed $$rtunities t re$la#e
his #rude %ts with lt * I&$erial 2ualit(+ %ut he did nt
regret in the least that it was the !illage #%%ler/s wr' whi#h
ri$$ed the tall &an/s *ra&e with $ure agn(+ and laid hi&
hel$less n the grund) Nr did he regret that it was the
sa&e $r &an/s #ra*ts&anshi$ that sta&$ed its #rude
authrit( n the tall &an/s *a#e+ %rea'ing his nse and %ruis,
ing his e(es)
There was $lent( * ti&e a*ter that *r 7athan t wal' t the
$la#e where the gun had *allen and $i#' it u$)
The wunded &an was still wat#hing hi&)
/Wh are (u6/ 7athan as'ed the wunded &an)
/I/& Orl# 8el#arth+> the ther re$lied+ his !i#e e-#eedingl(
ragged) /Planetar( G!ernr) E&$err * this wrld)/ It &ust
ha!e #st hi& a tre&endus e**rt t add the *inal $hrase+ %ut
he did it) He did it with the air * a &an wh was deter&ined
t sa( the wrds alud+ e!en i* the( were the last wrds he e!er
s$'e , and e!en i* the( were utterl(+ a%surdl( *alse)
/9u ga!e the rders+ then+/ 7athan said+ #lurlessl() /9u
rdered the destru#tin * the !illage)/
He #uld read the ther &an/s &ind+ $erha$s %e#ause
Sathrael #uld+ and he understd i&&ediatel( that the
answer was %th /(es/ and /n/)
N+ Orl# 8el#arth had ne!er gi!en a dire#t rder t lerius
Ful%ra t the e**e#t that he shuld send &en a#rss the
A&%er Waste t atta#' the !illage he #alled Odienne) I* an(
ne $ersn were ulti&atel( res$nsi%le *r that de#isin+
the %la&e &ight &re %!iusl( %e atta#hed t Ragan
Bal%erith the ranting &an r 7eir A.a the unwise,drea&er+
%th * wh& were here+ a!aila%le t .usti#e)
But (es+ Orl# 8el#arth was indeed the g!ernr * this tin(
*rag&ent * the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind that had gne astra(+
withut 'nwing r realising 2uite hw *ar it had gne astra(+
and there was a sense in whi#h all the rders in the wrld
were Orl# 8el#arth/s rders t gi!e r withhld+ t san#tin
r re!'e)
7athan sht Orl# 8el#arth %etween the e(es+ 'nwing as
he did it that it &ight %e re#'ned as a &er#( 'illing %( an(,
ne %ut Orl# 8el#arth hi&sel*)
Then he sht 7eir A.a in the head+ 'nwing as he did it
that the %lind &an &ight well ha!e re#'ned it a &er#(
'illing+ had he %een in an( #nditin t re#'n an(thing at
all)
Then he went t sht the tall &an)
/It/s t late+/ the tall &an &u&%led+ althugh the e**rt *
s$ea'ing see&ed t #st hi& as &u#h as the si&ilar e**rt had
#st 8el#arth) The &essage gt thrugh+ and the stars are
standing still in the s'() The shi$s are #&ing+ and the(/ll
s#ur))) this $lanet #lean * (ur 'ind+ hereti# *ilth) 9u/!e
lst))) and I/!e wn)/
He did nt as' 7athan/s na&e+ %e#ause he did nt #are wh
7athan was) He did nt #are a%ut the na&e * an(ne in
Cul1a#andra3 t hi&+ all &en ther than his wn narrw 'ind
were &ere !er&in+ wh had n need * na&es) He had a !er(
di**erent $inin as t the ne#essit( * his wn na&e+ whi#h
was Ragan Bal%erith)
The sht that 'illed Ragan Bal%erith+ when 7athan *ired it+
was as #lean as the thers4 an e**i#ient and $er*un#tr( #&,
$letin * the %usiness * &urder) First+ hwe!er+ he t' the
ti&e t tell hi&4 /It/s a tri#'+ (u $r *l) It alwa(s was a
tri#') The tra$ was laid lng %e*re (u were %rn+ %e*re
(ur an#estrs *irst set *t in 5ala1endra) Nw it/s set+ and
(u ha!e set it) The dae&n is waiting+ (ur shi$s are
d&ed+ and (u did it+ Ragan Bal%erith) 9u did it all)/
He wished that the ther had the $wer t read his &ind+
s that he &ight 'nw %e(nd a shadw * a du%t that it
was all true+ %ut the ranting &an was as dea* t his thughts
as t his na&e)
Finall(+ 7athan went t hel$ H(#illa) That+ a*ter all+ was
what he had #&e t d)
TWENT9,EIGHT
T BEGIN WITH+ when the wise,drea& un*lded li'e a sun,l!ing
*lwer in the *urna#e * her inner %eing+ H(#illa #n#entrated
n &a'ing hersel* see& s&all)
She 'new+ * #urse+ that she was lending Ragan Bal%erith/s
nt,!er(,wise,drea&er the $wer he needed t %last his &es,
sage a#rss s$a#e t the I&$erial Fleet+ %ut she did nt want t
run the ris' that the $s('ers re#ei!ing the &essage &ight realise
that its sender was nt in #ntrl) She 'new that the( &ight %e
a%le t dete#t the in*luen#e * the nati!e drug with whi#h his
&aster had dsed hi&+ %ut she dared t h$e that the *a#t
&ight wr' t her ad!antage in hel$ing t %s#ure the real
$e#uliarit( * 7eir A.a/s #r( *r hel$)
S she had t &a'e hersel* see& s&all) She had grwn as
large in her inner %eing as she had in the *lesh sin#e the tu#h
* Sathrael had in*e#ted her with greatness+ %ut she still had
the $wer t see& s&all+ and the s'ill t use it)
While A.a did &anage t esta%lish a tele$athi# lin' with the
Fleet/s $s('ers+ there*re+ H(#illa &ade a #unning e**rt t
re&ain $er*e#tl( $assi!e+ allwing the awareness she shared t
*lw thrugh her withut res$nse) That was nt eas(+ *r
&u#h * what she learned during her %rie* #&&unin was
Althugh Ragan Bal%erith had thught * hi&sel* as an
authenti# in2uisitr and his ass#iate $riests as genuinel(
learned &en+ and &re!er had *er!entl( desired that his $s(',
ers &ight %e#&e true astr$aths+ tw hundred (ears *
islatin %( the war$str& had &ade it i&$ssi%le t #&,
$lete 7eir A.a/s training+ let alne %ind his sul t that * the
E&$err) 7eir A.a was a *lawed instru&ent+ wh had needed
the a&$li*i#atin * his $wers %( nati!e drugs t allw hi& t
#at#h the &erest gli&$ses * I&$erial shi$s in his drea&s) He
#uld ne!er ha!e &ade hi&sel* heard %( the Fleet/s astr$aths
%( that &eans alne+ %e#ause the drug was t wa(ward+ t
*unda&entall( #hati# , %ut 7eir A.a did nt 'nw that)
Nr did Ragan Bal%erith)
Nr+ it see&ed+ did the astr$aths wh re#ei!ed his #r( *r
hel$)
The nl( wa( that 7eir A.a had %een a%le t get a &essage
thrugh t the I&$erial Fleet was t %rrw the $wer *
s&ene whse sul was !er( *ir&l( %und , %ut nt ne#es,
saril( t the E&$err) E!en nw+ Ragan Bal%erith thught that
he had *und and $r!ided that last ad!antage+ %ut he was
2uite wrng) E!en Ga!aln the Great/s $art had %een !er(
&inr) What was ha$$ening nw was the #ul&inatin * a
ga&e whse *irst &!es had %een &ade #enturies %e*re)
This was its *inal *lurish+ its 'e( de#e$tin) And the de#e$,
tin+ it see&ed+ had wr'ed) The shi$s were #&ing) The( were
res$nding t Ragan Bal%erith/s $lea)
Or were the(6
7eir A.a/s lin' was t the astr$aths * the Fleet+ nt t the
#a$tains * the indi!idual shi$s r the ulti&ate #&&ander)
H(#illa saw the situatin as the I&$erial $s('ers saw it , %ut
the( t were essentiall( $assi!e+ &ere instru&ents * #&&u,
ni#atin)
Perha$s the shi$s were #&ing t lend &aterial assistan#e t
5ala1endra/s #ause4 t re*resh the e#h * the I&$eriu& that
$ersisted here in s$ite * all ad!ersit(+ and t wel#&e it %a#'
int the greater I&$erial *ld) And $erha$s nt)
Perha$s their #&&ander #uld nt tlerate the least ris' *
%eing #ut ** as his lu#'less $rede#essrs had %een+ and
thught thse $rede#essrs su#h *ls that their des#endants
#uld nt %e wrth sa!ing) Perha$s their $riests and &inisters
had de#ided that whate!er *rag&ent * I&$erial *r#e and
$ur$se re&ained n the wrld was alread( t degenerate t
%e wrth the e**rt * rede&$tin)
Perha$s+ in *a#t+ the shi$s were #&ing t s#ur the $lanet
#lean * li*e * an( 'ind)
Sathrael+ H(#illa realised+ wuld nt #are either wa() The
nl( thing that &attered t the dae&n was that the shi$s
shuld #&e+ %e#ause the dae&n/s ne !erriding $ur$se
was t %e a destr(er * I&$erial shi$s)
The dae&n wuld nt %e here , /here/ &eaning nt &erel(
the wrld %ut als the uni!erse * s$a#e and ti&e , *r &re
than a &&ent+ and it did nt #are at all what %e#a&e * the
wrld+ r * the entire uni!erse * s$a#e and ti&e) It was inter,
ested in su#h &atters+ t %e sure+ e!en *as#inated %( the&+ %ut
its interest was a &ere aestheti# whi&+ whse ends wuld %e
as well ser!ed %( annihilatin as %( $reser!atin+ and $erha$s
all the %etter ser!ed+ gi!en that Sathrael itsel* had %een &ade
*r annihilatin and nt *r $reser!atin)
What *ate+ H(#illa wndered+ had the gd * Gul1a#andra
$lanned *r her wrld6 Had the gd e!en %thered t *igure the
wrld int an( *urther #al#ulatins he , r it , &ight ha!e
&ade6
She did nt 'nw)
N &atter hw tightl( her sul was %und+ she did nt
'nw)
And that was wh(+ when 7athan sht 7eir A.a in the head+
a%ru$tl( #utting her line * #&&uni#atin t the I&$erial
Fleet+ H(#illa did nt 'nw whether t re.i#e r &urn) She
*elt the heat * 7athan/s anger , and als *elt+ in s$ite * its
lesser intensit(+ the residual war&th * his l!e , %ut she did
nt 'nw whether t %e grate*ul *r his *urius arri!al r nt)
She 'new+ when 7athan had #&$leted his &ethdi#al
!engean#e+ that when he #a&e t hel$ her he was als a#ting+
as a true her had t a#t+ n %ehal* * Cul1a#andra+ and n
%ehal* * the wrld * whi#h Gul1a#andra was a tin( *rag&ent)
But she did nt 'nw whether he had wrught sal!atin r dis,
aster) Had she %een a%le t s$ea' #herentl(+ she wuld nt
ha!e 'nwn what t sa( t hi&) Had she had ti&e t tell hi&
the str( * what she had learned+ she wuld nt ha!e 'nwn
whether t tell it as e$i#+ traged( r *ar#e)
She 'e$t silent+ in the end+ %e#ause she did nt want t
s#rea&+ %ut she *elt utterl( and terri%l( alne with the %urden
* her new 'nwledge+ and with the &argin * ignran#e that
still re&ained)
Bund as she was t Sathrael the 7estr(er+ she #uld nt
hel$ %ut share its $ur$se and its destin(+ %ut there was enugh
* the hu&an le*t in H(#illa t wnder what wuld ha$$en
a*ter that $ur$se had %een *ul*illed and that destin( #n#lu,
si!el( &et , and nt &erel( t wnder+ %ut t #are)
<
TWENT9,NINE
WHEN 7ATHAN TURNE7 %a#' t H(dlla she was still sitting %lt
u$right+ %a#',t,%a#' with the e2uall( rigid #r$se * 7eir
A.a) He went t stand in *rnt * her+ %ut she did nt see& t
%e #a$a%le * rea#ting t his $resen#e) Althugh her e(es still
had !i!id green irises and $in$int $u$ils he was an-ius that
the( &ight %e as sightless as A.a/s) He 'nelt dwn and t'
%th her hands in his+ h$ing that the #nta#t wuld reassure
her)
The a#tual e**e#t was the $$site * what he had intended)
Instead * reassuring H(#illa+ the #nta#t i&&ediatel( unset,
tled hi&+ and the distur%an#e was $r*und)
He had %een &!ing li'e an aut&atn while he sht the
three re$resentati!es * the I&$eriu&+ his &ind see&ingl(
#lear and his thughts see&ingl( in $er*e#t rder , %ut that had
%een a %rie* illusin) The &&ent he tu#hed H(#illa/s &utat,
ing *lesh the strength * his #nne#tin t the dae&n %e#a&e
%!ius again) It was still a &atter * *eeling and nt * intel,
le#t+ %ut the raw $wer * arused e&tin &ade the authrit(
* his #ns#ius reasn see& !er( wea' indeed)
Had the *ld * e&tin %een entirel( his wn 7athan
&ight sn ha!e regained a &easure * e2uili%riu&+ %ut he
and H(#illa were t inti&atel( in!l!ed with Sathrael *r his
*eelings t %e sel*,#ntained) His &st ele&entar( i&$ulses
and a$$etites &erged with hers+ and its+ and %e#a&e #n*used
, and the drea& in whi#h H(#illa was lst %urst int his &ind
li'e a #atara#t)
7athan 'new that his %d( was still n the sur*a#e * his
wrld+ released %( the #law in whi#h Sathrael had $re!iusl(
%rne hi& u$ int the s'(+ %ut the drea& he shared with
H(#illa and the dae&n t' s&e less tangi%le $art * hi& *ar
higher than %e*re)
Sathrael was &!ing u$wards at an astnishing s$eed)
7athan saw the wrld whse sur*a#e he inha%ited %e#&e tin(+
#ntra#ting int a &inis#ule hal*,dis# n %igger than the dis#s
that its &ns dis$la(ed as the( #areered thrugh the night s'()
He 'new that it was the shadw * night that %s#ured the
re&ainder * the #ir#le) He 'new+ t+ that he was s&ewhere
in that shadwed $art+ hidden *r& his wn su$ernatural
sight)
He saw the sun *ade int a &ere star and *all int a %a#',
grund that had thusands , $erha$s hundreds * thusands
, &re stars in it than he had e!er %een a%le t see *r& the
sur*a#e * his wn wrld)
7athan had ne!er i&agined that the s'( #uld %e s glri,
us+ r s *ull * su%li&e light)
Fr a &&ent+ the i&age was #lear+ %ut then it %egan t %lur
and s&ear) The austere whiteness * the $in$int stars was
stained with #lur+ and their light *lwed and &erged , in
e-a#tl( the sa&e &anner+ he thught+ that his inner %eing and
H(#illa/s had *lwed and &erged)
He and she and it+ 7athan *elt+ shuld ha!e %een distin#t
$ints * intelligen#e and enlighten&ent+ #lear and white+ %ut
the( were nt) The( had %e#&e s&ething !er( di**erent4
s&ething %lurred and tinted+ s&eared and unstead())) and
the #ause * that was e-a#tl( the sa&e as the #ause * the stars/
un#ertaint()
Tw di&ensins * realit(+ whi#h shuld ha!e %een distin#t+
were !erla$$ing and inter*ering with ne anther)))
And the #n*usin was the tur%ulen#e stirred u$ %( the %eat,
ing * dae&ni# wings)
Sathrael was t large nw t %e !isi%le+ and $erha$s t
attenuated t %e tangi%le+ %ut it was there) What had %egun as
a seed within a hu&an =essel was rea#hing the #li&a- * its
%rie* e-isten#e+ and the $rdu#t * its *inal &eta&r$hsis was
nw %!ius)
The gru% that had %egun as Ni&ian and had trans*r&ed
itsel* %( re#'less #nsu&$tin int a Lrd * Change was nw
in the $r#ess * %e#&ing a war$str&4 a war$str& that
wuld *r& a &nstrus net in whi#h t ensnare a *leet *
I&$erial starshi$s)
7athan still had #ns#iusness enugh t #unt the star,
shi$s+ a *eat * whi#h e!en H(#illa had %een in#a$a%le)
There were twel!e)
7athan did nt ha!e #ns#iusness enugh t #unt the
stars int whse %ed the sun that lit his wrld had *allen+ %ut
he 'new that there &ust %e thusands * &illins+ $erha$s
hundreds * thusands * &illins)
I* the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind s$anned the whle * that
star*leld+ he thught+ hw &an( starshi$s &ust the I&$eriu&
ha!e6 O* what real signi*i#an#e #uld twel!e shi$s $ssi%l(
%e6
On#e+ when 7athan was !er( (ung+ his &ther had s#lded
hi& *r %eing waste*ul %e#ause he had %r'en ne * the nails
that she had gi!en hi& t re$air the wden *en#e * their
#hi#'en run)
/It/s nl( a nail+/ he had said) The s&ith has a %u#'et *ull *
the&)/
/A(e+/ Ora had re$lied) /And nw we shall need anther+ and
he will ha!e ne less) Our e-tra nail &ight ha!e se#ured a
hrse/s h*+ *r la#' * whi#h the hrse &ight #ast his she+
and strand its rider in the wasteland) And were that &an t %e
lst+ his #hildren &ight g hungr(+ and all the #hildren that
the( &ight ha!e *athered and &thered &ight nt #&e int
e-isten#e at all , in#luding the ne that &ight ha!e %e#&e the
wisest drea&er Gul1a#andra e!er $rdu#ed+ the li%eratr * his
$e$le+ and the s#urge * 5ala1endra)/
What his &ther had %een tr(ing t e-$lain was that e!er(,
thing great and wnder*ul that ha$$ened in the wrld
de$ended *r its *ul*il&ent n a hst * $rir e!ents+ ea#h *
the& $art * a #&$le- $attern * #auses and e**e#ts+ and that
there was n wa( * 'nwing whether a tin( lss here and nw
&ight e!entuall( %e &agni*ied int a *ar greater lss elsewhere
and elsewhen)
Where had thse twel!e shi$s %een ging+ when the( were
interru$ted %( 7eir A.a/s tele$athi# #ries *r hel$6 What di*,
*eren#e wuld it &a'e i* the( ne!er arri!ed6 Perha$s nne+ r
!er( little , %ut $erha$s nt) Fr la#' * ne shi$+ a %attle &ight
%e lst+ r a wrld) Fr la#' * twel!e))) Wh #uld $ssi%l(
'nw what was at sta'e here6 Nt 7athan+ nt H(#illa+ nt
Sathrael , %ut $erha$s the de!ius Chas gd that had &ade
Sathrael 'new+ and #ared)
The twel!e shi$s were steering a #urse thrugh war$,s$a#e
*r 7athan/s wrld) Their Na!igatrs had the sa#red
Astrn&i#an t guide the&) 7athan 'new this %e#ause
H(#illa 'new it+ and understd it t the e-tent that she under,
std it)
As sn as the shi$s re,entered what their #&&anders
e-$e#ted t %e nr&al s$a#e the( wuld %e #aught u$ in a
war$str&) Their *inal transitin wuld+ in e**e#t+ %e su**i,
#ientl( #&$li#ated and #n*used t &a'e it i&$ssi%le *r
the& t re#lai& their $r$er relatinshi$ with s$a#e and ti&e)
The( wuld %e destr(ed , nt &erel( ri$$ed a$art+ in the wa(
that the air#ra*t that had %rught 7eir A.a t Sathrael had
%een ri$$ed a$art n landing+ %ut turned inside ut and su%,
.e#ted t e!en &re $e#uliar #ntrtins)
7athan 'new this nt s &u#h %e#ause Sathrael 'new it ,
%e#ause Sathrael/s #a$a#it( *r 'nwing was ra$idl( dissl!,
ing , %ut rather %e#ause Sathrael was the war$str& that
wuld wrea' su#h e-ti# ha!#+ and %e#ause a su%stantial $art
* hi& wuld als %e#&e the war$str&+ as wuld an e!en
greater $art * H(#illa)
7athan and H(#illa and Sathrael wuld %e trn a$art alng
with the shi$s , %ut * the three+ nl( 7athan wuld %e a%le t
reser!e enugh * hi&sel* t thin' a%ut what was ha$$ening
t the&) H(#illa+ li'e Sathrael+ wuld %e #ntent t *eel it)
But #ntent was the wrng wrd+ 7athan realised) She and
the dae&n wuld %e *ar &re than #ntent) The( wuld %e
e%ullient+ e-ultant and e#stati#) Fr the&+ the *eeling wuld %e
e!er(thing4 nt &erel( the #ul&inatin * their e-isten#e %ut
its .usti*i#atin and its glr() The *ire * their li!es wuld %urn
htter and %righter than an( ther li*e , hu&an r dae&n ,
#uld e!er a#hie!e+ and the tw * the& reall( wuld e-$eri,
en#e that %last as the ulti&ate %liss+ as i* nthing else #uld
e!er &atter t an( %eing e-#e$t the &anner * its %urning)
But I a& a &an+ 7athan thught+ and I #annt d that) I a&
a &an+ and &ust as' &(sel* what will #&e a*ter &e) I a& a
&an+ and &ust #are a%ut the answer) I a& a &an+ and &ust
ser!e the #ause * &an'ind+ n &atter hw &an( indi!idual
&en ha!e %een &( ene&ies and wuld,%e &urderers) The
I&$eriu& is &( ene&( nw as it has alwa(s %een+ %ut %e#ause
I a& a &an I &ust as' the &re di**i#ult 2uestin * whether
it is als the ene&( * anther and e!en greater ene&( , and+
i* s+ whi#h * thse ene&ies I ught t hate the &re)
The I&$eriu& had destr(ed e!er(thing 7athan held dear+
e-#e$t H(#illa) It deser!ed his hatred) But 7athan was a &an+
and he had t as' wh() Had he nl( %een a &an+ he #uld
ne!er ha!e *und the answer+ %ut *r the &&ent he was nt+
and he thught that he #uld see wh() He thught that he
#uld see the ne#essit( * the I&$eriu&+ It was a %itter ne#es,
sit(+ t %e sure+ %ut it was a ne#essit()
In a uni!erse where $ea#e was i&$ssi%le+ the #st * e-is,
ten#e was war+ and that was what the I&$eriu& was4 a war
&a#hine that s$anned the stars+ whi#h dared t turn the
wea$ns * the war$ against the &align inha%itants * the
war$)
The twel!e shi$s atte&$ted t #&e ut * the war$ then+ in
rder t re,esta%lish &eaning*ul #nta#t with s$a#e and ti&e)
Instead+ the( were engul*ed %( the war$str& that had %een
the dae&n Sathrael)
Sathrael had *und intelligen#e and i&aginatin intriguing+
and the %usiness * thught 2uite *as#inating+ %ut it was n
lnger a %eing #a$a%le * #al#ulatin+ !isin r thught)
Neither was H(#illa+ whse su%#ns#ius sel* had %een *ull(
li%erated %( the $wer * the drug that &ade wise,drea&ing
$ssi%le)
/Wise/ was the wrng wrd+ 7athan realised) The drug hel$ed
$s(#hi#all(,gi*ted drea&ers t see what the( wuld ne!er th,
erwise ha!e %een a%le t see+ and t 'nw what the( wuld
ne!er therwise ha!e %een a%le t 'nw+ %ut it was wrng t
re#'n that ar#ane insight as a s$e#ies * wisd&) Wisd& was
anther 'ind * intelligen#e+ whi#h had *ar &re reasn in it
than sight and 'nwledge)
I a& the wise ne here+ 7athan thught+ %e#ause I a& the
nl( ne wh still has an( #a$a#it( *r thught) The( are *ire+
and #an nl( %u&) I a& a &an+ and I #an $lan)
In the &eanti&e+ the I&$erial shi$s were %eing trn a$art)
One %( ne+ as the( *ell int the net that had %een Sathrael+
the( were turned inside ut) It was a sur$risingl( slw $r#ess
, %ut 7athan re&e&%ered that the war$ was a ti&eless $la#e+
whse sl( inter*eren#e with the wrld * s$a#e and ti&e was as
li'el( t distrt duratin as it was t distrt distan#e)
The $e$le inside the shi$s were turned inside ut t+ s
that the( wre their lights n the utside and their s'in n the
inside) Their %ld re&ained #n*ined t their !eins *r a sur,
$risingl( lng ti&e+ %ut their #&$le- #nturs were stained
and $lluted %( a stin'ing war$aint * *dstu**s in !arius
stages * digestin)
Oddl( enugh+ the( hardl( nti#ed their in!ersin) It was as
i*+ *r& their wn $ints * !iew+ the( see&ed t %e $er*e#tl(
nr&al , e-#e$t+ $erha$s+ *r %eing slightl( &re sel*,
a%sr%ed than usual) But that was while the( were still
inti&atel( %und t their shi$s+ and t the tin( li*e,%earing
wrlds that thse shi$s had #ntained) One %( ne+ the
in!erted shi$s e-$sed their #rews t the hungr( !id * dee$
s$a#e4 the *urius !a#uu& whi#h su#'ed the %ld *r& its
*ragile !essels+ #urdled their %rains and %urst their e(es li'e s
&an( trdden gra$es)
Had the sldiers n the starshi$s nt %een wearing su#h
restri#ti!e ar&ur the( &ight ha!e %een &re #&*rta%le in
their e!er(da( wr'+ %ut the( did nt see& t 7athan t %e
the 'ind * &en wh $la#ed a high !alue n #&*rt) Their
&inds were entirel( gi!en !er t dis#i$line and #al#ulatin+
t re!eren#e and *aith+ t dut( and $ur$se) The sldiers
hardl( 'new what was ha$$ening t the& as the( were $eeled
and $ul$ed+ shredded and s#athed) The( died as %ra!el( and
as san#ti&niusl( as the( had li!ed+ $raising their Gd,
E&$err)
Their Na!igatrs+ n the ther hand+ realised 2ui#'l( enugh
what was ha$$ening t the&+ %e#ause their in!ersin had
wren#hed their $arti#ular #nne#tin with the Astrn&i#an
ut * true) The( 'new i&&ediatel( that the( were steering a
new #urse+ and that its destinatin was da&natin , %ut the(
#uld nt sa( s) An( wrds the( &ight ha!e s$'en+ li'e an(
s#rea&s the( &ight ha!e lsed+ were lst and #rushed inside
the&sel!es)
And the in!ersin was+ * #urse+ nl( the %eginning)
Alread(+ 7athan saw+ the newl(,&eta&r$hsed %eings were
%eginning t #hange again+ t lse what little integrit( the( had
le*t) The( were %e#&ing %lurred+ turning int s&ears *
#lur n the gaud( *a#e * eternit()
This+ 7athan understd+ was when the real tr&ent wuld
%egin) This was nt a 2ui#' wa( t die+ gi!en the war$str&/s
las#i!ius $la( with duratin+ and it was a %ad ne) The str&
that had %een Sathrael was su#'ing the& in and digesting
the&+ &a'ing nutrient * these new sa#ri*i#es .ust as it had
&ade nutrient * the &re rdinar( deaths that had $a!ed its
stairwa( t the stars)
7athan had n idea whether r nt he #uld st$ the
$r#ess+ %ut he 'new that he had t tr() He did nt ha!e t *r,
gi!e his li*elng ene&( the I&$eriu& * 8an'ind+ %ut he did
ha!e t deal with it as a hu&an %eing+ and nt as s&e #rea,
ture * the war$ *r wh& thught was a dis$sa%le lu-ur(
and a$$etite was e!er(thing)
I a& the nl( #ns#ius &ind that the str& has) he thught)
I ne!er surrendered &( #ns#iusness t Sathrael+ nr #uld
the dae&n ta'e it *r& &e while it was s dull and *ireless) I
a& the nl( #ns#ius &ind here+ and I need nl( e-ert that
#ns#iusness t ta'e #ntrl * what the str& has in $la#e *
li&%s)
Alas+ it wasn/t that eas()
7athan did rea#h ut+ &ustering all his will$wer+ and he
did indeed dis#!er that he had the a%ilit( t in*luen#e the
str& , %ut he was nl( a &an+ and the str& was nt nl(
%igger than a wrld %ut %igger than a slar s(ste&)
Fr a &&ent r tw+ 7athan *elt that he &ight as well ha!e
%een a tin( wr&+ al&st in!isi%le t the na'ed e(e+ whi#h had
%urrwed int the %rain * a giant+ entertaining ridi#ulus
delusins * grandeur as t the $ssi%ilit( * re$la#ing the
giant/s wn guiding intelligen#e) In truth+ thugh+ he was n
&ere in!ading $arasite) The dae&n had used hi&+ and &ade
hi& a $art * its *ast,e!l!ing sel*) He did ha!e $wer+ i* nl(
he had will enugh t use it and *rtitude enugh t %ear the
#nse2uen#es * its use)
When he tried t hld %a#' the str&+ he *elt the *ur( * the
str&+ and he *elt it as *ire)
It &ight ha!e %een $re*era%le+ he thught+ t ha!e %een
turned inside ut) He *elt the *ire #urse thrugh hi&+ %urning
hi& ali!e , e-#e$t that it did nt #nsu&e hi& %( turning hi&
t s&'e and ashes) It %urned hi& and it #ntinued t %u&
hi&+ as i* it &ight (et %urn hi& *r all eternit()
He *elt his s'in #at#h *ire3 he *elt his heart and lungs rast3 he
*elt the %ld in his !eins %il3 he *elt his %rain &elt , %ut all
* this was &ere *eeling+ and #uld nt %e#&e a#tual unless
he let it) All he had t d t $re!ent his %d( *r& %urning in
a#tualit( was t #ling stu%%rnl( t #ns#iusness+ t re*use t
%e#&e a &ere %undle * e&tins)
That was *ar &re easil( thught than dne+ %ut the &ere
*a#t that it #uld %e thught was $r* enugh that it #uld
als %e dne)
S 7athan %urned while he *ught the str&+ and li!ed with
the agn() He wuld nt surrender the $ri!ilege * %eing a
thin'ing %eing) N threat was ade2uate t &a'e hi& d that+
and n te&$tatin) He was a &an+ and he had the $wer *
#hi#e+ and he 'new where his dut( la( in the e-er#ise * that
#hi#e)
7athan understd nw what a $ett( *l he had %een t
thin' hi&sel* a her &erel( %e#ause he had sht a &an with a
stlen ri*le) He understd nw what a real her was+ and wh(
the I&$eriu& reall( did ha!e heres while their ene&ies had
nl( !i#ti&s * #asual #hi#e and #rru$ting te&$tatin)
He #uld nt 2uiet the str&+ * #urse+ r &a'e it int an(,
thing ther than it was+ %ut he #uld disru$t the $r#ess %(
whi#h it was tearing the I&$erial shi$s a$art+ and e!er(thing
within the&) He #uld nt e!en d that *r lng+ %ut he did
nt ha!e t)
He nl( had t win ti&e *r a *ew * the shi$s t &a'e their
es#a$e)
Winning ti&e *r& ti&elessness was di**i#ult+ %ut %inding
ti&e was ne thing that hu&an #ns#iusness was gd at+ ne
thing n whi#h the hu&an &ind had a reasna%l( se#ure gras$)
7athan rea#hed ut with the hands that still #las$ed
H(#illa/s+ and wn ti&e)
8en wh had %een turned inside ut were turned utside in
again+ awa'ening with a start *r& their &&ents * drea&li'e
sel*,a%sr$tin) The( lea$t t wr'+ 'nwing that the( were n
the edge * destru#tin %ut als 'nwing what t d a%ut it)
The( i&$le&ented the $r#edures in whi#h the( had %een
trained) The( $ra(ed)
The( #ntri!ed rder in the *a#e * Chas)
Three shi$s es#a$ed the tra$) Nt e!er(ne a%ard the& sur,
!i!ed+ %ut their #asualties were relati!el( light)
The sur!i!rs had nt the slightest idea+ * #urse+ that the(
had %een sa!ed+ let alne that the( had %een sa!ed %( 7athan)
Had an(ne tld the& what he had dne+ the( wuld nt ha!e
%elie!ed it , %ut e!en i* the( had+ it wuld ha!e &ade n di*,
*eren#e t what the( did ne-t)
The three sur!i!ing shi$s *ell u$n the wrld that the( 'new
as Sig&atus+ and as the( *ell the( rained indis#ri&inate destru#,
tin u$n its *a#e)
The( swed their %&%s in %right da(light *irst+ de!astating
e!er( #it( in 5ala1endra) The( redu#ed Sstenut t %lasted
ru%%le and &elted the e&$t( hulls * the shi$s that had
%rught their #usins t Sig&atus) Then the( &!ed t de!as,
tate Cul1a#andra+ whi#h still la( hidden in the dar'ness , until
the lng lines * e-$lsins tre highwa(s * light a#rss its
languid deserts and $at#hwr' *ields)
The ti&e that 7athan had wn *r the three shi$s was a $ri1e
their &asters were a!id t use , and #uld ha!e used *ar %etter
had the war$str& nt *llwed the& t the sur*a#e)
Had Sathrael nt %een su#h a shrt,li!ed entit(+ it &ight
ha!e re$aired the da&age that 7athan had dne t its s#he&e+
%ut the str& was %e#&ing in#reasingl( tenuus with e!er(
&&ent that $assed) Its re&nant had the $wer t &a'e the
stars swi& in the wrld/s &ulti#lured s'(+ and t $re!ent the
shi$s *r& rising ut * the at&s$here+ %ut it did nt ha!e the
$wer t turn the& inside ut r t shatter the& int s &an(
glwing shards)
S the shi$s landed)
Ha!ing destr(ed a lst *rag&ent * the I&$eriu&+ the(
%e#a&e a lst *rag&ent * the I&$eriu&) Ha!ing %rught a #li,
&a- t ne $er!erse ad!enture+ the( %e#a&e the $rlgue *
anther)
And s the wrld went n4 %attered+ %lighted+ %urned and
%ruised %ut %( n &eans un*it *r hu&an ha%itatin+ * a rel,
ati!el( $ri&iti!e %ut ad&ira%l( ingenius srt)
And s the wrld went n+ and n+ and n)
Until the ne-t ti&e)
PAWNS OF CHAOS
THIS SPELL WAS nt nl( the &st intri#ate that Ga!aln
had e!er atte&$ted+ %ut the &st intri#ate that an( sr,
#erer had atte&$ted sin#e hu&ans *irst arri!ed n the
wrld that the I&$eriu&/s star,&a$s had #alled Sig&atus)
The %east&en t' their $la#es) Ga!aln held a dagger
with a wa!( %lade in his right hand and a lighted tr#h in
his le*t+ %th * whi#h wuld ha!e t %e intrdu#ed t his
*lesh at the a$$inted &&ents) He was n stranger t
#nstru#ti!e sel*,&utilatin+ and it wuld nt %e the *irst
ti&e that he had $ut ut an e(e r #ut ** a designated
a$$endage)
When the a$$r$riate $ints * the ritual arri!ed+ there,
*re+ Ga!aln the Great did nt hesitate r tre&%le) Nr
did he %egrudge the gd he was $rud t ser!e the last
and least * the &an( sa#ri*i#es he had **ered in $ursuit
* this $arti#ular end)
Oh t %e a Lrd * Change0 he thught) Oh t %e a &aster
* &eta&r$hsis+ de*iant * #&&n de#a(0 What %liss it is t
ser!e the true gd+ and t %e *ree0
The !egetatin * the wasteland had %een %lea' and ugl(
e!en %e*re the air#ra*t had #&e dwn+ %ringing *urther
ruinatin in its *ier( train as it ri$$ed thrugh thi#'ets and
s#attered ht shra$nel) The %ushes had %een dr( and thrn(+
their rand&l(,twisted %ran#hes rigid) The %ul%us #a#ti had
%een e!en drier and whitel( hirsute) The lea!es *e,/)er( $lant
in sight had %een thin and s$i'( r s2uat and lu&$() There
had %een $ur$les and gre(s in a%undan#e+ #hreus (ellws+
dar' reds and s#a%rus $in's+ and nl( *ugiti!e hints * e&er,
ald green) The sil in whi#h the( grew had %een desi##ated+
#arse and lustreless)
Things were di**erent nw)
While 7athan sle$t+ the entire lands#a$e had undergne a
$r*und &eta&r$hsis) The sil n whi#h he std was a
%la#' and glutinus la&+ !er whi#h sli&e,&ulds stret#hed
in astnishing $r*usin) There were *lwers e!er(where+ all in
glrius %l&) There were le&n (ellws and #rea&( whites+
%ld s#arlets and $ale %lues) The lea!es n e!er( %ush were
huge and $al&ate+ tailred int all &anner * strange te&,
$lates) The %ushes were twi#e as tall as their $rede#essrs+
e-$lsins * straight %ut su$$le ste&s whi#h stirred in the
war& wind) The %asal s$heres * the #a#ti had %udded d1ens
* s&aller s$heres+ &an( * whi#h %re eru$tins * e!en
s&aller s$heres+ and the &a.rit( had slee' #lured *ur
instead * white hairs)
The %r'en se#tins * the air#ra*t were still s#attered all
arund+ %ut the( had alread( %een #lnised %( he#ti#
!inus grwths+ their *a%ri# $itted %( all &anner * $ur$le
li#hens)
The dead %dies *Orl# 8el earth+ Ragan Bal%erith and 7eir
A.a had lst e!er( !estige * *lesh+ althugh the (ellwed
%nes re&ained) Their s'ulls and ri%,#ages $r!ided *ra&es *r
lesser !ines+ whse $ale *lwers $r.e#ted *r& the e(e,hles
and ldged %etween the *rnt ri%s)
H(#illa was still there+ 2uite dead %ut als 2uite untu#hed
%( the $r#esses * de#a( and re#la&atin) She was the last
$h(si#al reli# * the str&4 the last re$sitr( * its energ( and
its $wer) Thus *ar+ her %d( had retained its integrit(+ %ut she
was dead *lesh ne!ertheless+ and in ti&e she t wuld &elt
and *ade int the new lands#a$e+ dis$ersing her %d( and her
sul int the wilderness)
7athan l'ed %a#'+ at last+ int H(#illa/s dead e(es+
e-$e#ting t &eet the ghst * her ga1e) He had nt (et released
his gri$ n her #ld hands)
She was dead+ %ut she s$'e t hi& ne!ertheless)
Than' (u+ 7athan+/ she said)
/Fr what6/ he as'ed) It shuldn/t ha!e %een eas( t &eet the
a##using stare * thse dead e(es+ %ut 7athan didn/t ha!e t
l' awa() He wasn/t in the least inti&idated)
/Fr %etra(ing &e)/
Wh/s @&e@6 And hw #uld an(ne gi!e than's *r a
%etra(al6 It desn/t &a'e sense)/
9u 'nw wh I a&+ 7athan+/ H(#illa re$lied , althugh he
nti#ed nw that her li$s weren/t &!ing) Wh else #uld gi!e
than's *r a %etra(al6 Wh else #uld entertain su#h a $ara,
d-i#al need6/
/I didn/t d an(thing *r (u+/ 7athan said+ *iguring that it
didn/t reall( &atter wh /(u/ &ight %e) /I did what I did *r &(
wn reasns+ %e#ause I a& a &an)/
/S (u were+/ H(#illa re$lied+ $la#ing n $arti#ular stress n
that last wrd) /But as' (ursel*+ 7athan4 hw d (u *eel6 And
then4 what will (u %e#&e6/
/I dn/t *eel an(thing+/ 7athan said) It was true) He didn/t *eel
an(thing at all) It was as thugh the *eeling $art * hi& had
%een stlen4 #ut ut+ ri$$ed u$ and thrwn awa()
It was+ * #urse+ the *eeling $art * hi& that had %een %und
t Sathrael+ &erging with the dae&n * the str&) What had
re&ained un%und+ se$arate and #a$a%le * inde$endent
a#tin had %een his #ns#ius &ind , %ut withut the e&,
tinal $art * hi&+ his #ns#ius &ind #uld ne!er ha!e dne
what he did+ %e#ause it wuld ha!e had n &ti!e *r#e t
dri!e it4 n *ear and n a&%itin3 n $ride and n lust3 n
sense * dut( t the !ast star,strewn *a&il( * hu&an'ind)
S what was he nw , and what &ight he %e#&e6/
/I/ll get it all %a#'+/ 7athan said+ un#ertain as t hw he 'new)
/I/ll li!e+ and the $ra#ti#e * li!ing will %ring %a#' desire+ and
h$e+ and an-iet(+ and,/
/9OU &ight %e#&e a great sr#erer+/ said dead H(#illa+ /with
the right guidan#e)/
/I ne!er had an at& * talent+/ 7athan re&inded her) That/s
wh( I/& still ali!e+ and (u/re nt)/ He shuld ha!e said+ and
H(#illa isn/t+ %ut he #uldn/t #are a%ut su#h ni#eties)
There are e-#e$tins t e!er( rule+/ dead H(#illa said) /I adre
e-#e$tins , and (u #uld learn t l!e the& t+ with .ust a
little &re $ra#ti#e) 9u dn/t ha!e t %e %und %( rules i* (u
dn/t want t %e+ 7athan) Thin' a%ut that+ when (u %e#&e
#a$a%le * wanting again) As' (ursel* what a wise,drea&er
&ight sensi%l( want+ in a wrld su#h as this) 9u/ll ne!er 'nw
anther)/
/I/ll ne!er ser!e (ur #ause+/ 7athan said) /Ne!er) I/ll alwa(s
%etra( (u+ %e#ause I/& a &an) 8an'ind is all that stands
%etween things li'e (u and the ulti&ate annihilatin * e!er(,
thing)/
/Nthing stands in the wa( * the ulti&ate annihilatin *
e!er(thing+/ the gd * Cul1a#andra tld hi& thrugh
H(#illa) /In the end+ e!er(thing $ssessed * li*e returns t
air and ash and dust+ and e!er(thing $ssessed * energ(
returns t listlessness) All that &atters is hw things %urn)
Nt hw 2ui#'l(+ %ut hw) Hw #uld ne delight in ta'ing
the side * Chas+ in %eing Chas+ i* there were n Order t
&a'e a ga&e * it6 Where is the s$i#e in eas( !i#tr(6 Where
is the $ride+ the .(+ the sense * a#hie!e&ent+ the triu&$h6
I need ene&ies+ 7athan+ e!en &re than I need allies) There
is nthing 2uite s $re#ius t &e as a traitr) But it desn/t
wr' the ther wa( arund) Re&e&%er that+ 7athan+ when
(u %egin t *eel again) Order #annt tlerate traitrs+ r
wea'lings+ r &alad.ust&ent+ r #reati!it() Order needs
nthing %ut rder+ and #al& * &ind) 9u #an ha!e that i*
that/s what (u de#ide t want+ when (u %e#&e #a$a%le *
wanting an(thing at all+ %ut (u &ight d %etter t #hse
therwise) I* (u #hse wisel(+ (u &ight %e#&e a greater
sr#erer than Ga!aln)/
/Ne!er+/ 7athan said) That/s nt what I a&) I a& a &an+ n
&atter what I &ight ha!e lst in the de*en#e * &( 'ind) I #an/t
and shan/t %e#&e an(thing ther than a &an , and i* I #an/t
*eel+ then at least I/& *ree *r& all te&$tatin) I a& n lnger
#rru$ti%le)/
That/s gd+ !er( gd+/ the %eing that was nt H(#illa said)
The nl( thing &re !alua%le t the Ruinus Pwers than a
#rru$ti%le sul is an in#rru$ti%le ne) I wuld wish (u lng
li*e i* (u were #a$a%le * it+ and gd lu#' i* there were an(
su#h thing) Hwe!er+ ; d %elie!e (u/ll *ind that (u stand a
%etter #han#e * sur!i!al i* (u start wal'ing westwards)/
7athan let g * H(dlla/s s*t and le$rus hands+ and she
t$$led sidewa(s)
N sner had her %d( hit the grund than the *lesh %egan
t &elt *r& her %nes+ *lwing int the ri#h dar' sil as i* it
were a!id t *ertilise the renewed wrld+ eager t ta'e $art in its
*rth#&ing ad!enture in e!lutin)
7athan 'new that he had nt %een drea&ing) It wuld ta'e
ti&e+ he thught+ t learn t drea& again , and when he did+
there wuld %e nt an at& * s,#alled wisd& in his
drea&s)
He raised hi&sel* t his *eet+ and li*ted his *a#e s that the
war& red wind #uld str'e his *e!erless #hee's) The sun was
arteriall( s#arlet nw that it had #li&%ed a little higher in the
%ld,stained s'(+ and it was nt in the least in!iting)
E!en s+ when 7athan set ut in sear#h * a $la#e t %e+ he
headed eastwards rather than westwards+ %e#ause he 'new nw
that nl( a *l wuld ta'e the wrd * a gd) I* he had %een
#a$a%le * wanting an(thing+ he reasned+ he wuld surel(
ha!e wanted t dis#!er e-a#tl( what had %e#&e * the h&e
that he had shared with his &ther , wh &ight+ i* *ate had
%een unusuall( generus+ %e still ali!e)
There+ i* an(where+ wuld %e the lgi#al $la#e t start his li*e
!er+ in an rderl( wa()
EPILOGUE
7ATHAN WO5E IIP+ nt ha!ing drea&ed at all) He turned awa(
*r& the #r($ti# stare * H(#illa/s sightless e(es t wat#h a dawn
the #lur * %ld)
The dis# * the hal*,risen sun was #ri&sn) In rder t rea#h
the sur*a#e * the $lanet its ra(s had t $ass thrugh the !eil
* the re!italised war$str& as well as the #urtain * s&'e
and ash that the I&$eriu&/s %&%s had thrwn u$) These
tw translu#ent %arriers had &ingled and &erged+ li'e tw
ha$$( #hildren lar'ing a%ut tgether+ and the ga&es the(
$la(ed with the light surel( shuld ha!e %een a wnder t
%ehld) The whle s'( was red and range+ $in' and !ilet+
strea'ed with e-ti# rain%ws and hst t dan#ing str&s ,
%ut 7athan %ser!ed it dis$assinatel(+ withut the least
tra#e * wnder)
When 7athan saw what the trailing edge * the war$str&
Sathrael had dne t the nati!e !egetatin he t(ed with the
2uestin * whether it &ight nt ha!e %een &re interesting t
wa'e u$ a little earlier+ %ut he see&ed t %e 2uite in#a$a%le *
re&rse r regret , r+ indeed+ an( ther e&tin) The 2ues,
tin $assed hi& %( unanswered+ as unengaging as an( ther
whi& * the i&aginatin)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
When as'ed wh( he dresses entirel( in %la#'+ Brian
Craig #lai&s t %e in &urning *r H)P) L!e#ra*t+ %ut
the real reasn is t dread*ul t re!eal) The ru&ur
that he .ined the British Antar#ti# Sur!e( in ;LLM /t
get awa( *r& it all/ is *alse3 he *ailed the &edi#al and
had t .in the Fren#h Freign Legin under a $seu,
dn(& instead) He is nt allwed t dis#uss the
reasns *r his dishnura%le dis#harge there*r& in
;LLL+ %ut he is glad that he will nw ha!e &re ti&e
t write and $la( #ri#'et)
is the authr * The Wine * 7rea&s+ and
als "arag1+ Plague 7ae&n and Str& Warrirs in an
earlier range *Warha&&er n!els+ and has #n,
tri%uted shrt stries t a range * anthlgies+
in#luding The 7edalus B' *Fe&&es Fatales+ edited
%( the in*a&us Brian Sta%le*rd) He is JN and nl(
l's lder %e#ause his tru%les ha!e aged hi&)