'The warrior becomes a visionary.' Dri lowered her legs with the same perfect control, and reclined as before on his forearm, head pillowed on his hand. 'I hope your Empress Maisa has room for such a people. Giants who yearn for crawlies, crawlies whose love their touch. Magad the Fifth would lock you in a madhouse, and feed me to the snappers in his reflecting pool.'

'Maisa, on the other hand, will receive you as one queen to another, or I never knew the woman,' said Hercol. 'She is the visionary, not I. But her visions are of solid things, things that may come to be. She is not always evoking Rin or Heaven's Tree or the promise of a paradise to come, like her stepchild the usurper. "The only paradise that concerns us, Asprodel," she told me once, "is the one we can build for all people, here in this world where we live." '

'I like that,' said Diadrelu. 'We ixchel are raised on a diet of paradise, you know. Stath Balfyr, Sanctuary-Beyond-the-Sea. A place that was stolen, a dream of an island that was ours, where perhaps our brothers dwell yet. Talag was the only one who ever thought to seek it in anything but poetry or song. But we all loved it. Sanctuary, the dream of it, made sense of our lives. It was the paradise we clung to.'

She caressed his palm. 'I don't need it anymore. Strange: two days ago I still did. Now there's something else, something closer and more real. I can let that vision go.'

A sudden noise made them both freeze: a little whimper or cough, barely audible. It seemed to come from the direction of Felthrup's cell. A moment later it came again.

'He's in pain!' said Dri, sliding to the floor. She ran towards the iron bars that separated the two cells. Hercol started to his feet.

'Keep your distance!' he said. 'Felthrup himself warned me not to reach through the bars. He gave Chadfallow a savage bite.'

'I won't get too close.'

Diadrelu slipped into Felthrup's cell. As Hercol hissed objections, she peered at the dark shape in the middle of the floor.

'He is not moving at all, Hercol.'

'Dri--!'

She took a cautious step closer, then another. 'I cannot see him breathing,' she said.

'Stay away! Lover, I beg you again! If you wish to save him, find Bolutu. Felthrup cannot even tell you what he needs.'

Diadrelu hesitated, then turned around and started back to Hercol. 'You're right,' she said, 'I will go to Bolutu at once.'

'And trust another giant not to betray us?' said Taliktrum's voice from the pa.s.sage. 'How startling of you, Aunt.'

Diadrelu was airborne on his first word, springing away like a gra.s.shopper, and drawing her sword in mid-air. But before her leap reached its zenith, something covered her, something entangling and strong. Her people had dropped a net from above. Its weights bore her crashing to the floor.

Hercol lunged forwards. Ixchel were hurling themselves from the cell bars, ten or more shaved-headed men and women, landing with spear and sword around the struggling Dri. Hercol shot his arm through to the shoulder, and ixchel blades began to stab it. The net was just beyond his reach. Within it, Dri stabbed and slashed, but a ring of spears already encircled her, and Steldak and Myett were struggling to catch hold of her weapon-hand.

'Diadrelu!' shouted Hercol.

Taliktrum himself had leaped into the fray. He spun to face Hercol. 'Shout!' he hissed, mocking. 'Shout aloud, wake the man in the next cage, bring your people running. Begin the extermination - and doom your lover with the rest of us.'

Hercol did not shout. Instead he threw himself with terrible force against the bars, stretching every muscle in his arm. Taliktrum danced out of reach just in time, but Hercol caught the nearest of his men between two fingers. He closed the ixchel within his fist, and squeezed.

'Let her go,' he growled, holding the figure up for them to see.

Steldak had taken Dri's sword. She retained her short knife, and had cut through the meshes with it in several places, freeing her head and one arm. But the spears jabbed her on all sides. There was no fighting her way out of that ring. Dri lowered her arms.

'Taliktrum,' said Hercol dangerously, 'let her come to me. This man's life is forfeit if she is harmed.'

'There's a giant talking,' said Steldak. 'We have not even drawn the woman's blood. He has no reason to think we mean to, yet he promises to kill.'

Diadrelu stood among the spear-points, gazing at Hercol. When her eyes moved to the man he held, something changed in her face.

'No,' she said. 'Ludunte.'

Her sophister sophister looked down from Hercol's bandaged fist. 'You're my mistress no longer, Dri. I renounce you. I have long had misgivings, but when I heard the giants speak the name of Sanctuary, I could side with you no longer. They must be fought, not reasoned with. Their souls are not those of reasoning creatures.' looked down from Hercol's bandaged fist. 'You're my mistress no longer, Dri. I renounce you. I have long had misgivings, but when I heard the giants speak the name of Sanctuary, I could side with you no longer. They must be fought, not reasoned with. Their souls are not those of reasoning creatures.'

'And now she herself has spoken of Sanctuary, to her unnatural lover,' said Myett. 'Did you hear, my lord Taliktrum? She can let that vision go can let that vision go - she renounces the vision of your father the prophet.' - she renounces the vision of your father the prophet.'

'Prophet?' said Diadrelu.

'Listen to the scorn,' said Steldak. 'Yes, woman, prophet! So do we of Ixphir name our lost Lord Talag, architect of his people's deliverance. Taliktrum is his living champion, born to complete his father's work, just as you were born to oppose him and test our faith.'

'You're not of Ixphir House,' said Diadrelu. 'We rescued you from a cage in Rose's desk. It was your mad attack on Rose that got my brother killed!'

'Lies, lies!' cried several of Taliktrum's shaved-headed fighters. 'You knew she would say that, Lord, you predicted it!'

'I share all that I see,' said Taliktrum. 'I am not my father, but I serve you as I may.'

There was a changed aspect to his voice, a self-conscious gravity. Dri took in the faces around her: Talag's volunteer bodyguard, plus a few newcomers like Steldak and Myett. In their smiles she saw bridled rage. In their eyes, the clarity of fanatics.

Hercol had tightened his grip, drawing a gasp from Ludunte. 'Believe what you will,' he said, 'but be certain of this: he will die unless you release her.'

'She is my father's sister,' said Taliktrum, 'do you think I wish her dead ?'

'Then let her come to me,' said Hercol, blinking sweat from his eyes. 'I love her. I offer you this man, and my oath to be a friend to your people and a voice for their welfare all the days of my life. No matter in what land this voyage ends, or the circ.u.mstances of its ending.'

Dri raised her head sharply, as though he had said too much. 'He knows!' someone whispered. 'She told him our plan!'

Taliktrum raised a hand for silence. He turned and addressed a few words to Dri in ixchel-speech. Hercol could hear nothing, of course, but he saw the effect Taliktrum's words had on Diadrelu. She cried out, appalled. She shut her eyes and shook her head. Steldak and Myett pointed at her, their mouths forming curses or taunts. The others cheered them on. All eerily silent; then Taliktrum faced Hercol again.

'My aunt thinks I lack the strength to rule,' he said, 'and yet when I make strong decisions they frighten her.'

'Strength and power are not the same thing,' said Hercol.

'Who do you think to lecture?' snapped Taliktrum. 'I am the defender of this clan, and of a future race of ixchel, unless her treason prevents it. You speak of love - that is monstrous, foul. You do not know the meaning of the word.'

'I did not know,' said Hercol softly, 'before.'

Myett turned her slim body towards him and pouted, mocking. '"I did not know." We saw just what you came to We saw just what you came to know know, satyr. We watched it all.'

'Then you know that Diadrelu is the n.o.blest among you,' said Hercol, unflinching. 'You heard her speak to me of what she holds most sacred - the good of your clan. How she would take her own life before letting you kill one another over her.'

'No one here is about to take up arms for that traitor,' said Steldak.

'They would not be here if they were,' said Diadrelu, 'and I expect few of the clan know about this ambush at all - or shall ever hear about it, afterwards. Enough! This talk wearies me. Nephew, you tried to slay me on Bramian. Were you in earnest? Do you mean to kill me now? I think you must, for I will not cease fighting for our people. And the order you just boasted of giving, which you do not wish Hercol to hear, only proves again that you do not know how such fighting is done.'

Outraged cries from the spear-bearers. But her words struck a chord in Taliktrum. His solemn demeanour vanished; he could not look his aunt in the eye. 'Don't think I lack the courage,' he warned her softly.

'I merely wonder if you have the courage not not to be what others expect.' to be what others expect.'

A flash of annoyance crossed Taliktrum's face. 'Swear you will not reveal the order I gave.'

'Swear it, Diadrelu,' said Hercol, 'do as he wishes. Please.'

'I cannot,' she said softly. 'In fact I will will tell the humans I trust. What you have set in motion, Taliktrum, could well destroy the ship, and the clan along with it. Have you paid tell the humans I trust. What you have set in motion, Taliktrum, could well destroy the ship, and the clan along with it. Have you paid any any attention to what the humans are actually doing, where they're actually taking us? Is attention to what the humans are actually doing, where they're actually taking us? Is vortex vortex a word you understand ?' a word you understand ?'

There were hisses around the circle. 'She taunts him! She shames our lord ! You'll pay, woman, you'll pay!' Taliktrum gave his followers an uneasy look, as if torn between enjoying their adoration and wishing they would stop. Taliktrum gave his followers an uneasy look, as if torn between enjoying their adoration and wishing they would stop.

'My lord,' hissed Steldak, 'the time for talk is past! past! I - we, that is, we - are needed elsewhere. And quickly! Don't let her play on your family sympathies! You agreed - she is incurable. She has pledged herself to I - we, that is, we - are needed elsewhere. And quickly! Don't let her play on your family sympathies! You agreed - she is incurable. She has pledged herself to that! that! ' He gestured with disgust at Hercol. ' He gestured with disgust at Hercol.

Taliktrum's face looked increasingly troubled. 'Giant,' he said at last, then, with effort, 'Hercol. You care for my aunt? That . . . connects us, in a sense. We too were close; as a boy I learned at her knee. She was a good aunt, she understood a child's . . . no matter. Can you make her promise to obey me in all things in all things? Will she do that, for love of you?'

Hercol closed his eyes. He already knew what Dri's answer would be. When he opened them she was shaking her head.

One spearpoint was resting against Dri's throat. Steldak gripped it furiously. 'All this was decided, decided,' he said.

With a trembling sigh, Hercol lowered his hand to the floor. 'Her obedience is not mine to give, Lord Taliktrum,' he said. 'I would give it, and anything else you asked of me. Here is your servant. I shall be another, if you will have me. Give me a razor; I will shave my head. Teach me your oaths and I will take them. Only spare her, spare her, my lord.'

He opened his hand, and Ludunte sprang free, astonished. But his amazement was nothing compared to Taliktrum's. The young man's lips were slightly parted; words formed on them, only to vanish unspoken. He looked suddenly at Diadrelu, standing quiet and thoughtful in his trap, neither resigned nor hopeful, merely aware.

'Aunt,' he said, and there was a plea in his voice, as if he were the one who was trapped.

Then Steldak made a furious sound, and jerked the spear. Diadrelu gave a small, clipped cry. She put her hand on her neck. The blood leaped through her fingers, a red bird escaping, a secret no one could keep. Her eyes slid upwards, searching for Hercol, but the light went out of them before they reached his face.

37.

Grotesqueries of Change

A hidden deformity, A sore of the mind, A wound in a world once blessed, A chosen tumour, A heart betrayed, A stone whose touch is death.

The blind mote in the soul's good eye, The slave who sells others tomorrow, The joyless triumph, The prayer that lies, The lesson you learn to your sorrow.

'Hate'

Cantica of Ixphir House

9 Umbrin 941 'You're fast, girl,' said Sandor Ott. 'Almost fast enough, had you guessed that the danger lay behind as well as before you. Don't struggle, now, and for pity's sake don't try any of Hercol's tricks. Remember he learned most of them from me.'

Only now did Pazel realise what he'd sensed in the room: not a difference but a sameness sameness that should have warned him. The room should have felt emptier; instead it was as crowded as before. Rose was seated; it was his boot on Pazel's chest. Dastu, holding a fengas lamp, stood to the captain's right. Sergeant Haddismal and another Turach were in the room as well. The sergeant had a thrusting dagger fitted over the knuckles of his right hand. The blade was red to the hilt. that should have warned him. The room should have felt emptier; instead it was as crowded as before. Rose was seated; it was his boot on Pazel's chest. Dastu, holding a fengas lamp, stood to the captain's right. Sergeant Haddismal and another Turach were in the room as well. The sergeant had a thrusting dagger fitted over the knuckles of his right hand. The blade was red to the hilt.

Behind the Turachs sat a row of bound men. Four had their faces concealed by leather hoods; the fifth, Lieutenant Khalmet, was slumped sideways against the wall, mouth open, blood darkening his chest.

Haddismal glared down at Pazel. 'I'll cut off your ears if you so much as sigh for that dung-eating dog! Khalmet swore to live and die for Magad the Fifth. There hasn't been such an oath-breaking in the history of the Turachs. A stab through the heart was a mercy he never deserved - and he knew it, the coward, he all but lunged on my blade. The rest of you won't be so lucky.'

Despite the hoods, Pazel recognised the others. Fiffengurt was still in the shirt he'd worn to the council meeting; he hadn't even rolled down his sleeves. Pazel spotted Druffle by his gauntness, Big Skip by his size, Bolutu by his monk's cloak and the blackness of his neck below the hood. The men's hands were tied very firmly behind their backs. All four were trembling.

'Pazel Pathkendle,' said Dastu, almost sadly, 'you never should have let old Chadfallow mix you up in all this. I hear you had a fine arrangement on the Eniel Eniel, and were halfway to citzenship.'

Pazel looked at him, and could not even feel the hate he expected. He was numb to any sensation but a kind of appalled disappointment. 'Why?' he said.

'You should be asking why not,' said Dastu. 'You never knew me, of course. You knew my second self - the one I'm done with at last at last, I think, Master ?'

'Yes, lad, you're done with it,' said Ott. 'You've pa.s.sed the exam with rare distinction.' He caught Pazel's eye, and gave a hideous grin. 'What do you say, Pathkendle? Top marks for Dastu? Certainly he had you you believing in him. The good tarboy, the one without cunning or prejudice or vice, the one n.o.body could hate.' Ott looked appreciatively at Dastu, who basked in the praise. 'Six years he's been refining the part. Fiffengurt wanted to make him a midshipman; he saw believing in him. The good tarboy, the one without cunning or prejudice or vice, the one n.o.body could hate.' Ott looked appreciatively at Dastu, who basked in the praise. 'Six years he's been refining the part. Fiffengurt wanted to make him a midshipman; he saw officer officer material there. I think the truth hurt more than the blows.' material there. I think the truth hurt more than the blows.'

Rose withdrew his sword, and his boot. 'Stand up, Pathkendle. Ott, you will release the girl's hair. She knows better than to fight you.'

Ott slid his hand from Thasha's hair to her shoulder. 'There are a dozen Turachs behind me in the pa.s.sage,' he said, his lips almost touching her ear.

Pazel got to his feet, still aching from the blow to his stomach. 'Dastu, how can you be with them?' he said, still incredulous in his shock. 'You were at the council. You know what they're doing is insane. You know that Arqual can't win another war - that n.o.body n.o.body can, except Arunis.' can, except Arunis.'

'I know you cannot face the truth,' said Dastu, 'but that doesn't surprise me. How could you be expected to embrace Arqual's coming supremacy? You lost your mother and sister in the Rescue of Chereste. You're an Ormali, with an Ormali's small, stay-at-home mind. I understand these things. But the world is large and cruel, Pazel. It needs Arqual more than ever.'

'That's not you talking,' said Pazel. 'That's just something they told you.'

'Something real,' said Dastu.

'I guess believing that is part of the exam, too,' said Thasha.

Dastu turned her a look that made the hair stand up on the back of Pazel's neck. But Sandor Ott just laughed. 'Yes, he said. 'An essential part - and the only part your tutor failed, Thasha Isiq. Hercol called it freedom of thought, but in fact his freedom began to bleed away the moment he left the Secret Fist. Was he free when he lived like a hunted thing in the Tsordons? Was he free when his lands were seized, his sister and her family beggared, his ancestral home in Tholja.s.sa burned to the ground?'

Thasha twisted in his grasp. 'You!' she spat. 'Did you do those things to him?'

'He did them to himself, la.s.s,' whispered Ott, pressing his lips even closer. 'And where is he now? In a cage, at the end of a wasted life. All for a withered old woman named Maisa - a cause as hopeless as pet.i.tioning the sun to rise in the west. Dastu, I'm glad to say, shows no such taste for lost causes.'

'You put it best, Master,' said Dastu. 'Arqual is the future of Alifros. In time we will need just one name, for world and Empire alike.'

'Boy,' said Rose, 'you've served your purpose well, but I don't give a d.a.m.n for your Imperial plat.i.tudes. Fawn on your master elsewhere; for now concentrate on the task. Nine mutineers you spoke of; only seven have you produced.'

'Captain,' said Dastu, 'I fear I played the part too well. Undrabust and the stowaway girl meant to come, but I protested, the better to a.s.sure they'd not suspect I wanted--'

'Go and find them,' Rose interrupted. 'If they are still behind the magic wall, lure them out. Tell them their friends are in need; tell them whatever occurs to you. Haddismal, send a man along with him. I want the stateroom emptied once and for all.'