Part 38 (1/2)

And then it pa.s.sed, and he had himself coldly under control. That was important. Father would despise him should he allow emotion to weaken his resolve.

Meister Speaker! he said loudly. Meister Speaker, I would be heard!

But s.h.i.+frin couldnt hear him above the gabbling and his own pathetic attempts to restore order. So, uncaring that he had not been invited here, considering himself above such petty considerations, he stalked across the chamber floor.

Lord Garrick! said s.h.i.+frin, noticing him at last. My lordIm sorry but this is a privy gathering. Youve not been granted leave to I will present myself wherever I choose, he said, making his way towards the Speakers table with a studied, deliberate nonchalance. In case youve forgotten, s.h.i.+frin, my father was a councilor.

What of it? said Rafel, one hand on Orricks shoulder. Council positions aint hereditary, Arlin.

The chamber was falling quiet, as one by one councilors both Doranen and Olken stilled their chattering tongues. Smiling, Arlin halted. Decided to let the incivility pa.s.s, for now.

And yet here you are, Rafel.

I was invited, said Ashers son, his face darkening. And my fathers not dead.

His smile widened. Yet.

Lord Garrick! said Jaffee, his shocked protest cutting through the Councils babble. That was uncalled for.

Ignoring the old fool, and the rest of the Council, he kept his gaze on Rafel. Speaker s.h.i.+frin, I stand before you seeking redress for a gross injustice. My father Arlin, said Rafel. Letting go of Orricks shoulder, he stepped out from behind the Speakers table. Dont do this. Dont make a fool of yourself. Go home and mourn in private. Your father wasnt murdered.

Of course you would say that, Rafel, he replied, ruthlessly civil. Being one of his murderers. But I prefer to Arlin, b.l.o.o.d.y accept it. Your father got himself killed, Rafel retorted. And he near got mine killed with him while he was at it. Im sorry hes dead, but Sorry? Astounded, he had to wait a moment for his breath to return. Youre sorry, Rafel? That is a verysmallword. That is a word lacking weight, and meaning. Its the word you use when you tread on someones foot, accidentally. Or when you interrupt them during polite conversation. It is not the word you use for stealing an innocent mans life.

I didnt steal anything! Rafel shouted. I didnt kill anyone. I Be quiet, said Pellen Orrick, his voice hoa.r.s.e, weak, but full of authority nonetheless. Both of you. We dont have time for this. We have to And then he closed his eyes briefly, shaking his head. Forgive me, Meister Speaker, he said to s.h.i.+frin, then nodded to another ferrety Olken seated close by. Mayor Stott. Its not my intention to Fernel Pinttes replacement glanced at s.h.i.+frin, then raised a hand. No need to apologise, Pellen. Your experience is undisputed. Please, go on.

Lord Garrick, said Pellen Orrick, theres not a man or woman in this chamber whod diminish the natural sorrow any son must feel on the loss of his father. But this is not Justice Hall. If you have a grievance, make representation to Lady Marnagh once our session here is concluded. As senior administrator of Justice Hall she will examine your complaint and Sarnia Marnagh is well known as Ashers friend, he replied, not bothering to look at the ageing Doranen woman who so failed to understand where her loyalty belonged. I have no confidence in her judgement.

Be that as it may, Lord Garrick, said frail Barlsman Jaffee, over the muttering Council. Not one of us stands above the law. Now you must withdraw, so we might continue our urgent business undisturbed.

They were dismissing him? As though he were a n.o.body, an Olken? What business could you have more important than murder? he demanded. More important than the slaughter of one of Lurs great mages?

This kingdoms survival! said s.h.i.+frin. Lord Garrickas Meister Orrick says, this Council grieves with you and mourns the kingdoms loss of your father. But Plat.i.tudes! he spat at the fat fool. I have not come here for plat.i.tudes. I want No-one here gives a s.h.i.+t what you want, Arlin! said Rafel, his face savage. So s.h.i.+ft your a.r.s.e out of this chamber before I Pellen Orrick slapped his hand to the Speakers table. Rafel No, Pellen! said Rafel, half-turning. Im sick of this poxy little s.h.i.+t and his poison tongue. Him and Fernel Pintte and Sarle Baden, all three tarred with the same lying brush. Im a murderer. My fathers a murderer. You call yourself Das friend? What you were saying before, did you even mean it? Or are you no better than this b.l.o.o.d.y Council, this leaky boatload of sinkin fools?

Orrick lurched to his feet, unsteady on his one wooden leg. Shame on you, Rafel. If your father was here Well, hes not, spat Rafel. Hes lying three-quarters dead under his blankets with my motheryour friendweeping over him. Because he risked his life for this kingdom, again. His furious glare raked the chamber. I dont know how any of you look yourselves in the mirror.

Forgotten for the moment, Arlin retreated almost to the chamber doors where he might continue to discreetly observe the proceedings. Rafel was invited here for a reason. Whatever that was, he wanted to know.

This murderers life is become my business. There is nothing too small about him that I would not learn. I will bring him down. I will lay him low. Before I am done with him, he shall weep at my feet.

Rafel, said Speaker s.h.i.+frin sternly. Your anger is excusableyou fear for your fathers health. So do we. But you werent asked here to judge us. Thats not your place.

Rafel scowled at the Speaker. Then what is my place? Why am I here?

s.h.i.+frin played his gaze over the murmuring Council until it fell silent. Glanced at Jaffee, and Sarnia Marnagh, and last of all at Pellen Orrick. Then he turned to Rafel. Youre Ashers son.

Warily, Rafel stared back at him. I know.

Levity, Rafel? said s.h.i.+frin, his expression tightening. With Lur facing its darkest days, youd s.h.i.+frin, Pellen Orrick said, touching his arm. Its a tense time.

What I mean, said s.h.i.+frin, through gritted teeth, is that like your father, you can feel the earth the way other Olken mages cant?

So? said Rafel, still wary.

And like your father, you have the touch for Doranen magic?

Arlin, closely watching, saw Rafels fear, imperfectly concealed. Was thrilled by it. Fear was a weaknessand weakness could be exploited.

You know I do, Rafel said. Whats going on? You aint saying whats happened is my fault? Or Das fault? Because we didnt cause this, we were No, said s.h.i.+frin, curt with impatience. Rafel, n.o.bodys blaming youor your father. We know how much we owe him.

Then tell me what you want, said Rafel, so arrogant. His fathers son, indeed. Or Im going back to the Tower. My mother needs me.

And so does Lur, said s.h.i.+frin, with an uneasy sideways glance at Pellen Orrick. Rafel, with your father He hesitated. unwell, it could be youre our kingdoms only chance of survival.

Im not, said Rafel, taken aback. Arrogance abruptly subdued. Interesting. Its the weather thats gone wrong, and I aint a WeatherWorker.

We know that, said Speaker s.h.i.+frin. But you have power. There has to be something you can do to stop Lur falling apart.

The councilors leaned forward, all of them, even the Doranen, waiting to hear what Rafel had to say. Waiting for him to save them. Rafel. They were pathetic.

Rafel looked at them, still uncertain. If thats true, I dont know what it is.

When Lur faced its first great crisis, Doranen and Olken magics were melded, said Barlsman Jaffee. And Weather Magic was born to keep us safe. Now Lur faces destruction once more, and this Council believes What? said Rafel, incredulous. That we should make our own Weather Magic? Or something like it? Dont be mad. Its more likely wed make things worse, not better. Those magics A memory, unpleasant, s.h.i.+fted behind his eyes. There was fear again. What did he know? You dont want to muck about with them.

Arlin bit his tongue. It galled him, but he agreed with Rafel. These Doranen were milk-and-water mages. Not a one of them was strong enough to wield that kind of power. It didnt exist here, anyway. Barl had seen to that. The magic they were after could only be found over the mountains, in Lost Dorana.

Nothings been decided, Rafel, said Jaffee, frowning. Nothing can be decided until the meaning of every s.h.i.+ver and twist in this kingdom, no matter how subtle, is understood. You are the strongest Olken mage we have. Will you seek the answers for us? Will you bind yourself to Lurs suffering earth and tell us what we need to know so we might cure what ails our poor, beleaguered home?

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Rafel stared at the floor. Paced a few steps. Paced back again, saying nothing. Then he looked up. Arlin, catching his hard stare full-face, felt himself flinch. A thought rose, unbidden: Dont get on his bad side. Disturbed, angered, he pushed it away. The Olkens not been born that I will ever fear.

Were seeking a way to save the kingdom, so that no more tragic sacrifices are made, said Jaffee, sounding almost humble. But we cant save it without you, Rafel. Please. Please, help us.

The council chamber was utterly silent. Every breath held, every body still as stone. Every hopeful, harrowed gaze trained on Ashers murdering son.

All right, Rafel said at last. Ill ride out tomorrowif you promise me two things.

Rafel Pellen Orrick shook his head. Youd bargain? Now? With so much at stake? Your father Is a fool, Rafel said fiercely. And dyou know why, Pellen? Cause whenever anyone asked himasks himfor something, he gives it. No matter what it might cost him, he gives it and never once stops to think of himself. Well, that aint me.

An uncomfortable stirring round the chamber. What is it you want? s.h.i.+frin asked at last.

Arms belligerently folded, Rafel treated them all to his most arrogant stare. First off, you dont argue with me when I tell you what I find. You dont throw your hands up and say I must be mistaken. You dont ignore me, like you always ignore my da. Cause I know this much, what youre asking me to do? Its going to hurt. A lot. And Im not much interested in being called a liar afterwards.

s.h.i.+frin took a moment to look at his fellow-councilors. Not a one of them spoke. Not a single face showed any objection.

Agreed, said the Speaker. Whatever you find, we will accept as the truth without argument. Whats your secondrequest?

Arlin swallowed his contempt. Request? Demand, more like it. Ashers thuggish son was browbeating them, twisting their weak armsand they were letting him.

No wonder the kingdom is come to such a parlous place, with weaklings like this in charge. What use is a Council that begs, instead of leads?

Stirring from thought, Rafel turned and flung out a pointing finger. You tell him to stop calling me and my father murderers. You make Lord Arlin b.l.o.o.d.y Garrick swear on oath before this Council, here and now, that he knows what happened down in Westwailing wasnt murder.