Part 22 (2/2)
”I have come to ask a favor of you.”
”Anything you wish, my lady.”
”I wish to borrow Davata Notrals,” she said brightly.
Sajin showed no reaction. ”You must know I can't grant that. I don't have the authority.”
”Then will you bring it before the council?”
”If it is your wish.” He bowed, then hesitated. ”Would you do something for me?” me?”
She smiled. ”What would you have me do?”
”Enlighten us as to its origin?”
A slight pout developed on her face. ”What do your people find so impressive about that book? It is nothing more than fairy tales about a world which doesn't exist.”
”Davata Notrals contains the living text. Each time our sky searchers examine it, the text changes. Stories unfold in different ways, and the prophecies about its people change.”
”But they are not your people, Sajin.”
”I am puzzled Ki' Janu. Why would you create such an artifact for us to cherish, and then make light of its importance?”
”It is only important to you, because you do not understand it.”
”It is important to us, because we believed it was a gift from you, and now you ask for it back?”
I knew Kitaya was bluffing, and this insight caused an involuntary smile to form on my face. Unfortunately it caught her attention.
”Who is this?” She sounded mildly annoyed.
”This is our sky searcher, Charm.” Sajin kept his posture.
Kitaya moved in my direction, examining me with a cold sapphire gaze. After a few excruciating seconds, she produced a squint, and a half smile. ”He has your strength, Sajin. Perhaps you should guard yourself; your career may be at stake.”
”I will keep that in mind.”
”So will you do as I asked?” she said, repositioning herself in front of Sajin.
”I will.” He folded his arms over his chest. ”Will you consider my my request?” request?”
”Yes, but in the mean time, may I at least see see the text?” the text?”
”Do you wish to see the original parchments?”
”Yes, please.”
”Is there any particular section you would like to view, or would you have it all?”
”I wish to view the book of the prophet Amiel.”
”The Book of Reason,” he stated with an almost imperceptible hesitation.
She nodded.
”There is a matter I must attend to. Charm can show you the text.” He looked at me. My head gave a startled snap in his direction. Our eyes met in silent communication. ”Is there a problem?” he asked.
”I beg your pardon, sir,” I replied in my most diplomatic voice. ”I merely doubt I have the proper credentials to a.s.sist Lady Kitaya in a manner befitting her stature.”
”I am sure you will do just fine.” He turned back to Kitaya. ”If you need anything else, my lady, I will be in the council chambers.”
”Thank you, Sajin.” Her eyes were still on me. It was clear she didn't know what to think of me, but I suspected it was a mystery she would enjoy unraveling.
I gave her a discrete bow. ”If you will follow me, your holiness.”
As we headed out into the main corridor, people stopped and stared. Kitaya was intriguing to behold, and quite out of place amidst the plain clothed dignitaries. We reached a slate staircase and I looked back at her. ”This way, my lady,” I said, gesturing to the stairs.
They spiraled around a ma.s.sive marble cylinder, which reached from the bas.e.m.e.nt to the peak of the domed ceiling high above. Its thick marble railing was graced with intermittent statues. It had taken seventeen long years to build this staircase, and men had died during its construction-- but all I could think about, was the fact that I had never seen anyone dust it.
For a long time we climbed in silence.
”How goes the war?” I inquired at last.
”There seems to be no end to it,” she replied pa.s.sively.
”Who wages the war while you are here? Armadon, Lorna, and Corel?”
”Yes.”
”Did we have any luck in getting Tiko?”
She came to a stop and looked up at me. ”Did we we have any luck? How is it you know so much about the affairs of the G.o.ds?” have any luck? How is it you know so much about the affairs of the G.o.ds?”
I stopped and turned. ”This is the capital, many rumors travel through these walls.”
Her right eyebrow rose slightly. ”Yes-- I suppose they do.”
I looked ahead, then back at Kitaya. ”We should be there soon. It's only a little farther.”
She nodded, and in her eyes I saw suspicion.
How much could I tell her? I trusted her, but things were different now. Even if I did tell her, would she believe me? Would I have believed myself? It didn't matter. I could not reveal my ident.i.ty. I shuddered at the thought of what Rath would do to me in my present form. My mind s.h.i.+fted to the unending blackness of the dungeon, and Gaza's daughter flashed into my perception. Her pleading eyes stabbed at my heart. She was dead now. Kitaya needed to know this. She needed to tell the others-- but there was no way to tell her without revealing my ident.i.ty.
”Deep in thought?”
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