Part 31 (1/2)

Her angry question ignited fresh uproar, Olken shouting at Doranen, Doranen waving clenched fists at Olken. Asher, closing his eyes, felt a stirring in the air. Anger and power were a dangerous combination.

Barl b.l.o.o.d.y save us all. Reckon well cut each others throats long afore we got a chance to starve to death.

No point ringing the bell again. He needed to be a bit more definite this time. Recalling a spell hed read in Durms privy notebook, he muttered its words, drew its sigils, and watched every chair in the chamber leap as though come to life. Watched them rattle and bang and make a b.l.o.o.d.y good racket, thudding and sc.r.a.ping against the mosaiced floor. Felt a grim satisfaction to hear the startled cries, the squeals of fright, to see the wrath of Barl put into every last fratchin b.l.o.o.d.y one of em.

Wheezing Barlsman Jaffee, whod tipped out of his seat and was frowning gently in reproof, reached up and tapped him on the knee. I think youve made your point, Asher, he said, breaking the shocked silence. Now take advantage of the moment and get these fools to listen. For if we dont take action quickly, I do fear Lur is doomed.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

For once the wittering ole Barlsman were offering pithy advice. Still stood on the Speakers table, he fisted his hands on his hips. You heard Barlsman Jaffee, he said loudly. Now sit down again, the lot of you.

Olken and Doranen stared at him, unwilling to obey.

Plant your b.l.o.o.d.y a.r.s.es or I swear Ill start throwin the furniture!

Eyes wide, every councilor sat. Wary now, a smidgin afraid. Rememberingand not before b.l.o.o.d.y timethat he were the man whod killed the sorcerer Morg.

Fernel, Fernel, he said, shaking his head. You dont b.l.o.o.d.y learn, do you? First the Harbour, now this. Tollin proved there werent nowt for us beyond the mountains.

Tollin crossed the mountains fourteen years ago! Pintte retorted, on his feet. How arrogant you are, to stand on that table declaring theres no point us seeing for ourselves whats happened in the world in all that time. Or do you claim to know without seeing? Does this mean theres something else youre not telling us, Asher? Or are you simply making things up?

As the Council chamber rustled with whispers, Asher climbed down off the Speakers table. Put himself at floor level, with Pintte, and shoved his hands in his pockets.

You sayin I be a liar, Meister Mayor?

Pintte held his ground. Im saying yourewhats your quaint term for it? Oh yes. Frighted. And because yourefrightedyou want everyone else to be frighted too.

You poxy s.h.i.+t, I shouldve let you drown. So. I be a liar and a coward?

Relis.h.i.+ng an audience, Pintte smiled with mock-humility. Asher, once you did Lur a great service. I dont deny it. But that great service did not make you our king. You dont lay down the law or issue decrees. You are one voice, no louder or more important than any other. He indicated the gathered Council with a sweep of his arm. And we, the chosen representatives of Lurs people, we decide what will be done and what wont.

Asher considered him. What? Like you decided how itd be a clever idea to try breakin the magic in Dragonteeth Reef? That worked out dandy, didnt it? So aye, by all means, lets go rompin over the mountains, Fernel. I mean, what could go wrong, eh?

Then what do you suggest we do? Fernel shouted above the renewed clamour. Cling to the frail hope Barl will send us a miracle? If Barl cared for Lur wed not be suffering now!

Frail hope? said Jaffee, creaking to his feet. I find that an unfortunate choice of words, Meister Mayor. Particularly since you are shouting at one of Barls miracles. Youve accused Asher of arrogance. The same might be said of you in declaring she has abandoned us.

Fernels chin came up sharply. Barl was a Doranen. It was the Doranen who brought calamity here in the first place. Forgive me if Im reluctant to trust Lurs future to the hands of the sorceress who helped create this dilemma.

The council chamber burst into another furious uproar. This time both Olken and Doranen berated Pintte. But not all of them, Asher noted. At least not all the Olken. A handful ranged themselves beside Doranas mayor, vigorously defending him against attack.

He slumped on the edge of the Speakers table, not at all inclined to put himself in the middle of this brangle. This were Jaffees business, him bein Lurs senior Barlsman. But Jaffee didnt seem inclined to fight.

I miss Holze. He were a doughty man. He stood up to Morg. But Jaffee aint got hisself much of a spine.

In the end it was Sarle Baden who called for order, and was listened to. As one of the mages who survived Westwailing, one of the most powerful Doranen mages left in Lur, he could clap his hands together and flare a bit of light round hisself and that gave folk pause long enough for him to get a word in edgewise.

Its no secret, Mayor Pintte, that you harbour resentment towards my people, he said. And that you wish for us to leave this kingdom and never return. Nor is it a secret that your sentiments are shared by many Olken. His eyes narrowed as he smiled without warmth. Its time this Council knew that as many Doranen feel the same way.

Stunned silence. Then Rufus cleared his throat, and leaned forward over the Speakers table. You want to leave Lur?

Youre surprised, Speaker s.h.i.+frin? said Baden, turning, his pale eyebrows lifted. Have youhas any Olkennever once wondered if the Doranen are happy here?

Of course were happy, Lady Marnagh said quickly, and looked around the chamber at the Olken seated nearest her. Lur is our home. Lord Baden, please dont presume to speak for Lur is our adopted home, Baden interrupted smoothly. Forced upon us centuries ago by dire circ.u.mstances. But times have changed, Sarnia. Morg is dead and somewhere beyond Barls Mountains lies our true homeland. Lost Dorana. There are many of us who wish to return there and create for ourselves lives not circ.u.mscribed by outdated, unnecessary laws.

Asher frowned. Laws against muckin about with magic?

Youd have us abandon Barls wisdom? said Jaffee. Lord Baden, that would be A choice, said Baden. That I and many Doranen believe should be available to us. Hence our willingness to a.s.sist in breaking the reef.

But you failed, said Jaffee. You should take it as a sign.

And so we do, Pintte declared. A sign that its time for a second expedition to cross Barls Mountains. On this, at least, Lord Baden and I are in perfect accord.

Pintte Asher shook his head in tired disbelief. Did that knock on your noggin doddle you altogether? How many times dyou need to hear it? There aint nowt for us over them b.l.o.o.d.y mountains.

I dont believe that, said Pintte, his jaw clenched tight. If Tollin had pushed on, if hed not cravenly turned back when He slid off the Speakers table. Cravenly? Whats that sposed to mean? Are you sayin Tollin and his people were cowards cause they turned for home once folk started dyin?

Fernel Pinttes face reddened. If they hadnt let their fears overcome them then Then what? he demanded, furious. Pintte, you be an ignorant fool. Only thing any of usll find over them mountains be a slow cruel death. And if you reckon Im about to stand here with my thumb stuck up my a.r.s.e while you chinwag frighted folk into throwin their lives away on your b.l.o.o.d.y say-soafter Westwailing?then you aint been payin close enough attention to me.

Not giving spluttering Pintte a chance to reply, he rounded on Sarle Baden.

And you! You got a b.l.o.o.d.y nerve, Lord Baden. You know in your belly how bad Morgs magic is. How long it survives. How it twists and kills. Your friend Lord Garrick just died goin up agin Morgs magic. And you want to send folk out to where that mad b.a.s.t.a.r.d once ruled? Whats wrong with you? Eh? What are you thinkin?

Pale with fury, Sarle Baden pushed his way through his fellow councilors until he, too, stood before the Speakers table. I am thinking that if Barl hadnt rendered the Doranen impotent there would be a chance of us defeating Morgs legacy, he spat. For youre right about one thing, Asherwe have no hope of cleansing the world of his stain when the only magic we have is the watered-down trumpery left to us by Barl. But somewhere beyond the mountains, in Lost Dorana, lies our true magic. Our heritage. It is past time we reclaimed it. And because my friend Rodyn Garrick died for that dream, I am determined to finish what he began.

By going over them mountains?

Yes, said Baden. Asher, there are Doranen who were prepared to brave the ocean beyond Dragonteeth Reef. Even though we have never been a seafaring race. Compared to those terrors, braving a mountain range is nothing. The Doranen did it once. We can do it again.

With Fernel Pintte, whos been agitatin against you? Stirrin up bad feelings and creatin ill will?

Baden spared Pintte a brief, sidelong look. With anyone wholl help us achieve our aims. Besides. What Pintte and Olken like him feel isnt new, Asher. Your people have resented mine for six hundred years. He smiled without warmth again. As you well know. You mayve been friends with King Gar, but otherwise ?

Dont you chuck me in the same basket as Fernel b.l.o.o.d.y Pintte, he said, his voice low. I might not have a lot of time for your folk, Baden, but that be a long stones throw from wantin to see you tossed out of Lur on your a.r.s.es.

Baden sighed. This isnt about us being tossed, Asher. Its about us leaving of our own free will.

You see? said Fernel Pintte, triumphant. So Asher, will you attempt to force people to stay where they have no desire to be?

Loathing Pintte, confronted by questions hed never asked himself and didnt want to answer now, in public, he looked at Jaffee.

Barlsman? You got an opinion on this?

Not at present, said Jaffee, sounding shaken. I would pray on the matter before pa.s.sing p.r.o.nouncement.

We dont require your prayers, Baden said bluntly. Nor do we seek the approval of a woman dead six centuries. The religion you serve holds no purpose for us, Jaffee. We look to Lost Dorana for answers now, not to a painting on your precious chapel wall.