The Sapphire Rose

‘Of course not, Your Grace,’ Krager agreed. ‘The plan, of course, was to attempt to get what they wanted by following the plan Annias and Martel had already laid out. If the Primate of Cimmura had managed to bribe his way into the Archprelacy, he’d have been able to achieve everything they all wanted without resorting to war, and wars are sometimes chancy.’

‘And what are the things they wanted?’ King Obler asked.

‘Annias is obsessed with becoming Archprelate. Martel’s willing to let him have that. It’s not going to mean anything anyway, if this all goes according to plan. What Martel wants is power, wealth and legitimacy. Otha wants domination of the entire Eosian continent, and, of course, Azash wants the Bhelliom – and the souls of everyone in the whole world. Annias will live forever – or very close to it – and he was going to spend the next several centuries using his power as Archprelate to gradually bring the Elenes over to the worship of Azash.’

‘That’s monstrous!’ Ortzel exclaimed.

‘Moderately so, yes, Your Grace,’ Krager agreed. ‘Martel will get an imperial crown with only slightly less power than Otha’s. He’ll rule all of western Eosia. Then you’ll have the four of them – Otha and Martel as emperors, Annias as high priest of the Church and Azash as God. Then they’ll be able to turn their attention to the Rendors and to the Tamul empire in Daresia.’

‘How did they propose to get Bhelliom for Azash?’ Sparhawk asked bleakly.

‘Subterfuge, deceit, outright purchase or main force, if necessary. Listen to me, Sparhawk.’ Krager’s face was suddenly deadly serious. ‘Martel’s led you to believe that he’ll go north a little way and then turn towards eastern Lamorkand to join with Otha. He’s going to Otha, all right, but Otha’s not in Lamorkand. His generals are much better at fighting wars than he is. He’s still in his capital in the city of Zemoch itself. That’s where Martel and Annias are going, and they want you to follow them.’ He paused. ‘I was told to tell you that, of course,’ he admitted. ‘Martel wants you to follow him to Zemoch and to bring Bhelliom with you. They’re all afraid of you for some reason, and I don’t think it’s just because you’ve managed to find Bhelliom. Martel doesn’t want to face you directly, and that’s not really like him. They want you to go to Zemoch so that Azash can deal with you.’ Krager’s face twisted in sudden anguish and horror. ‘Don’t go, Sparhawk,’ he pleaded. ‘For God’s sake, don’t go! If Azash takes Bhelliom away from you, the world is doomed.’

The vast nave of the Basilica was filled to overflowing very early the following morning. The citizens of Chyrellos had begun timidly returning to what was left of their homes almost as soon as King Wargun’s army had rounded up the last of Martel’s mercenaries. The people of the Holy City were probably no more pious than other Elenes, but Patriarch Emban made a gesture of pure humanitarianism. He let word be spread through the city that the Church storehouses would be opened to the populace immediately after the thanksgiving services were concluded. Since there was no food to be had anywhere else in Chyrellos, the citizens responded. Emban reasoned that a congregation numbering in the thousands would impress upon his fellow Patriarchs the gravity of the situation and encourage them to take their duties seriously. Besides, Emban did feel a certain compassion for the truly hungry. His own bulk made him peculiarly sensitive to the pangs of hunger.

Patriarch Ortzel celebrated the rites of thanksgiving. Sparhawk noticed that the lean, harsh Churchman spoke in an altogether different tone when addressing a congregation. His voice was almost gentle, and he sometimes verged on actual compassion.

‘Six times,’ Talen whispered to Sparhawk as the Patriarch of Kadach led the throng in the final prayer.

‘What?’

‘He smiled six times during his sermon. I counted. A smile doesn’t look all that natural on his face, though. What did we decide to do about what Krager told us yesterday? I fell asleep.’

‘We noticed that. We’re going to have Krager repeat what he told us to the entire Hierocracy right after Colonel Delada reports the conversation between Martel and Annias.’

‘Will they believe him?’

‘I think so. Delada’s the unimpeachable witness. Krager’s merely providing confirmation and filling in details. Once they’ve been forced to accept Delada’s testimony, they won’t have much difficulty choking down what Krager has to say.’

‘Clever,’ Talen said admiringly. ‘Do you know something, Sparhawk? I’ve almost decided to give up the idea of becoming the emperor of thieves. I think I’ll enter the Church instead.’

‘God defend the faith,’ Sparhawk prayed.

‘I’m sure He will, my son,’ Talen smiled benignly.

As the celebration concluded and the choir broke into exalted song, pages moved through the ranks of the Patriarchs delivering the announcement that the Hierocracy would resume deliberations immediately. Six more of the missing ecclesiasts had been discovered in various places in the outer city, and two emerged from hiding places within the Basilica itself. The rest were still unaccounted for. As the Patriarchs of the Church solemnly filed out of the nave and into the corridor leading towards the audience chamber, Emban, who had stayed behind to speak with a number of people, scurried past Sparhawk and Talen, puffing and sweating. ‘Almost forgot something,’ he said as he passed them. ‘Dolmant’s got to order the Church storehouses opened. Otherwise, we’re liable to have a riot on our hands.’

‘Would I have to get as fat as he is if I want to run things in the Church?’ Talen whispered. ‘Fat men don’t run very well when things go wrong, and something’s bound to go wrong for Emban eventually.’

Colonel Delada stood near the door to the audience chamber. His breastplate and helmet gleamed, and his crimson cloak was immaculate. Sparhawk stepped out of the line of Church Knights and clergymen entering the chamber and spoke briefly to him. ‘Nervous?’ he asked.

‘Not really, Sir Sparhawk. I’ll admit that I’m not looking forward to this, though. Do you think they’ll ask me any questions?’

‘They might. Don’t let them rattle you. Just take your time and report exactly what you heard in that cellar. Your reputation will be speaking with you, so nobody can doubt your word.’