Part 5 (1/2)
”Go then. I will wait.” I tapped him on the shoulder, attaching a thread. He quickly departed and I brought up the web to keep an ear on him. He did what he said he would and soon returned with another man.
”This is Randal. He can help you.”
The man wore a fine blue suit. White curly hair covered most of his burly face. He reminded me of Santa Claus. I uncovered my eyes.
”Follow me please,” he said gruffly.
I followed him down an endless string of hallways until the man slowed to a stop. As he opened the heavy door to the council chamber I quickly scanned the interior. Around a large granite table in the center of the room were twelve men in business suits. The table formed a symmetrical dodecagon. A man sat before each flat edge. Papers littered the table.
Randal spoke in a lowered voice. ”One moment, I will get him for you.”
Sajin was on the far side of the table apparently in a heated debate with the man next to him. As Randal spoke in his ear he looked up quickly, then excused himself. I couldn't help noticing how tired he looked. This was no great surprise, he was a man with a lot on his mind.
”Greetings, Lord Tardin.” He spoke quietly. ”What an unexpected surprise. Why do you come in such secrecy?”
I looked at Randal. ”Thank you. You may go.” I reached out and shook his hand and deposited two rather large diamonds. His eyes widened. ”I trust you will keep our meeting secret,” secret,” I said, looking him in the eye. ”And make sure the other man receives his share.” I said, looking him in the eye. ”And make sure the other man receives his share.”
”Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” He bowed and left.
I turned back to Sajin. ”Is there a place we can talk privately?”
”Yes, this way.”
He led me to a chamber and as he opened the door the scent of strawberries wafted out. Inside many candles were burning. A fire crackled in the fireplace. In the center of the room, a cloaked figure sat poring over a thick brown book.
I looked at Sajin, slightly annoyed. ”I said I want to go somewhere private.” private.”
He gave me a puzzled look. ”This is private, lord.”
I squinted at him. ”Then who is that? that?” I pointed to the slumped figure.
”Again, I find I must apologize. I did not wish to state what I thought you already knew. His name is Charm. He is our sky searcher. Last night he was found here, frozen in that position.” He looked toward the figure. ”I do not believe he can hear us. We may speak freely.”
I did not respond to Sajin but moved toward the silent shadowy form. Completely motionless. Frozen above a thick leather book. The man's dark features appeared distorted in the flickering firelight. His expression was one of total astonishment, as though he had uncovered something of great importance. My heart skipped a beat as a haunting realization took hold of me. ”What book is this?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice even.
”That is the sacred tome, lord.”
I looked up. ”What is it called?” called?” I asked shortly. I asked shortly.
Sajin looked at me questioningly, then stated slowly, ”Davata Notrals?”
The room began to swim. I reached for a table.
”Are you all right, lord?”
”I'm fine,” I replied through clenched teeth. ”I am-- merely experiencing-- entrance fluctuations.” Entrance fluctuations? That was a pitiful excuse. Entrance fluctuations? That was a pitiful excuse. Gradually my head cleared and I took a long hard look at the figure in the chair. Who Gradually my head cleared and I took a long hard look at the figure in the chair. Who was was this man? Why had he frozen in place the night I arrived? And this man? Why had he frozen in place the night I arrived? And more more importantly, what did that importantly, what did that book book have to do with it? I needed to know more but didn't want to let my guard down in front of Sajin. ”Sajin, what is your understanding of Davata Notrals?” have to do with it? I needed to know more but didn't want to let my guard down in front of Sajin. ”Sajin, what is your understanding of Davata Notrals?”
He furrowed his brows. ”It is a gift.”
”Is that all you have to say about it?”
He thought a moment. ”I understand it is alien to our world and that its text is ever changing.” His eyes took on a distant look. ”It speaks of lands which do not exist and of great men who have no history in Vrin. It has puzzled our scholars for centuries. They have sought after an answer to the singular G.o.d depicted within it. This G.o.d is referred to as the G.o.d of All, perhaps inaccurately, by our sky searchers.” He gave a slight pause, perhaps hoping I would step in with some universal truth. He appeared disappointed and continued. ”We have used it as a guide to living a pure life and have utilized its principles in the development of our world's government. Although we have seen the stories of the people in it change, the message of the law does not. It is this law which has kept Vrin at peace for centuries, that is, until the G.o.ds returned.” He stopped abruptly. ”I beg your pardon for my frankness.”
”You speak the truth. I will not hold that against you.” I looked him in the eye. ”You're right. War has returned to Vrin and for that I am sorry. But you have to understand, not all the G.o.ds wish it. I can't change what Rath has done, it is tragic and criminal. But a new threat has surfaced which is far more menacing...” Again I wondered how much I should disclose.
”Lord?”
I threw caution to the wind. ”Gaza is on the verge of destroying Vrin. We are gathering forces against him.”
He stood dumfounded. ”I- I do not understand. He created this world. Why would he want to...”
”We do not know much at this point. We're not sure what his intentions are, but we can't allow him to follow through with the threat. We need your help.”
”My help?” He looked surprised. ”What could I possibly do to help the G.o.ds?”
”I'm looking for Humphrey. Do you know where he is?”
”I don't. But I know someone who does.”
”Can you bring him to me?”
Sajin looked doubtful. ”I can bring her her to you, but I cannot guarantee she will cooperate; she is a refugee of the war. Before the war, she stayed with Lord Humphrey for a time because her father died in his service.” to you, but I cannot guarantee she will cooperate; she is a refugee of the war. Before the war, she stayed with Lord Humphrey for a time because her father died in his service.”
”I thought Humphrey was a hermit?”
”He is. That is why her father's services appealed to him.”
I waited for him to continue. Then asked, ”What do you know about Humphrey?”
”Sir?”
”Tell me everything you know about him.”
Sajin again appeared puzzled by my lack of knowledge. He furrowed his brow and began. ”Humphrey was always too stubborn to use his power for even the smallest pleasure or necessity. So every time he went into town the people gave him a hard time because he wouldn't bless their community with treasures. Humphrey swore he would not use the power and was not willing to make any exceptions. He had decided to move on but that's when he met Janod, Thana's father.” Sajin hesitated. ”Is this what you wanted to hear?”
”Yes. Go on,” I said, eager to learn as much as I could.
”Janod was a local businessman and fairly well to do. He approached Humphrey with a proposition. His only request was that the old G.o.d bless his daughters with a touch. In return he would bring supplies directly to Humphrey's cabin. Humphrey informed the man that his touch would not do the children any good, but that did not matter to Janod; he believed in his heart that it would protect them.
”And so it was. For four years Janod brought fresh supplies, and often Humphrey invited him to sit and talk. The children would come out and play near the river and over time a bond developed between Humphrey and Janod's family.
”But then one day Thana came in the place of her father. She told Humphrey her father was ill. Humphrey went with her to see him. He was indeed very ill and the local healer said there was a good chance he would not survive. Humphrey sat with him for several days providing what comfort he could but it was not enough, and on the sixth day, Janod died. Janod's wife knew Humphrey's convictions yet she could not bring herself to forgive him. So she packed up her belongings, and her children, and moved away. After a time Thana returned to let Humphrey know that she was not angry with him. Like her father she believed Humphrey was a good man and she understood his convictions. He invited her to stay as long as she wished; he missed the company of her family very much. She stayed for a short time but soon left to go back to her mother and sister.”
Sajin stopped and furrowed his brow. ”But when she reached home, she found both of them dead.”
”Dead?”
”Yes. Because of the war between Rath and Armadon.” Sajin shook his head. ”And now she is the leader of the resistance group called SCAR. I believe you remember Dirm. He is one of them.”
I let out a small laugh. ”It's hard to forget a guy who points a crossbow at your head.”