harry turtledove - bridge of the separator

8/9/2019 Harry Turtledove - Bridge of the Separator

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Bridge of the Separator

Table of Contents III

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

XI

XII

XIII


H ar ry T ur tl ed ov e T hi s i s a w or k o f f ic ti on . A ll t he c ha ra ct er s a nd e ve nt s p or tr ay ed i n t hi s b oo k a re f ic ti on al , a nd a ny

r es em bl an ce t o r eal p eo pl e o r i ncid en ts i s p ur el y coi ncid en tal.

C op yr i gh t 2 00 5 b y H ar ry T ur tl ed ov e

A ll r ig ht s r es er ved, i nclu di ng t he r ig ht t o r ep ro du ce t hi s b oo k o r p or ti on s t hereof i n any f or m.

A B aen B oo ks O ri gi nal

Baen Publishing Enterprises

P .O . B ox 1 40 3

R i ver dal e, N Y 1 04 71

www.baen.com

ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-0918-9

ISBN-10: 1-4165-0918-6

C ov er a rt b y To m K id d

First printing, December 2005

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data


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Turtledove, Harry.

B ri dg e o f t he S ep ar at or / H ar r y T ur tl edo ve.

p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-0918-9

ISBN-10: 1-4165-0918-6

1. Clergy--Fiction. 2. Refugees--Fiction. I. Title.

P S 3 5 7 0 .U 7 6 B7 5 2 0 0 5

813'.54--dc22

2005026424

Distributed by Simon & Schuster

1 23 0 A venu e o f t he A meri cas

New York, NY 10020

Production & design by Windhaven Press, Auburn, NH (www.windhaven.com)P ri nt ed i n t he U ni ted S tates o f A meri ca

B AE N B OO KS b y H ARR Y T UR TL ED OV E

Th e T ime o f T rou bl es I

T he Ti me of Tr ou bl es I I


T he W ar B et we en t he P ro vi nc es s er ie s:

S en t r y P ea k

Marching Through Peachtree

Advance and Retreat

T h e F ox n ov el s:

Wisdom of the Fox

Tale of the Fox

3 x T

Thessalonica

A l t er na t e G en era l s, e di to r

A l te r na t e G e ne r al s I I , e di to r

Alternate Generals III, e di to r

The Enchanter Completed , e di to r

D ow n i n t he B ot to ml an ds ( wi th L . S pr ag ue d e C am p)

I


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W he n a s yn od i n V id es so s t he c it y n am ed R ha va s p re la te o f S ko pe nt za na , t he p ri es t t ho ug ht h e w as

being sent into exile. Not only that, he thought it an insult to the imperial family, for wasn't his

g rand mo th er s is ter t o t he g rand fath er o f M al ei no s I I, A vt ok rato r o f t he V id es si an s? T o p ut i t m il dl y, h e

d idn 't w an t t o l ea ve t he i mp er ia l c ap it al f or t he c it y i n t he f ar n or the as t o f t he E mp ir e o f V id es so s.

O ld N eb ou lo s, t he e cu me ni ca l p at ri ar ch o f V id es so s, f in al ly h ad t o t ak e h im a si de a nd t al k s en se i nt oh im . G or ge ou s i n a c lo th- of -g ol d r ob e w it h P hos ' s un p ic ke d o ut i n s hi ni ng b lu e s il k o n t he l ef t b re as t,

Neboulos sat Rhavas down in the study of the patriarchal residence, close by the High Temple. The

patriarch's long, bushy white beard wagged as he poured wine for both of them with his own hand.

" Th is i s n ot e xi le ," N eb ou lo s i ns is te d. " It i s n ot I s we ar i t by t he l or d w it h t he g re at a nd g oo d m in d. I t i s

opportunity."

" Ea sy f or y ou t o s ay, " R ha va s i ns is te d. " You do n' t h av e t o g o. " H e w as i n h is m id -t we nt ie s t he n, b ut

r em ai ned u ni nt im id at ed b y N eb ou lo s' r an k and b y h is y ears . R havas w as t al l and t hi n, w it h a l on g, n ar ro w

a xe b la de o f a f ac e, a d ag ge r o f a n os e, a nd b ri ll ia nt b la ck e ye s u nd er e le ga nt , a ri st oc ra ti c e ye br ow s. H ist ons ur e o nl y m ad e h is f or eh ea d s ee m e ve n h ig he r t ha n i t w ou ld h av e a ny wa y. H e w as o ne o f t he m os t

brilliant clerics, maybe the most brilliant, of his generation, and he knew it very well.

S o d id N eb ou lo s, w ho m ad e a p lacati ng g es tu re b ef or e l if ti ng h is s il ver g ob let. " Dr in k, d ri nk ," t he

patriarch urged.

W it h a n a ng ry g es tu re , R ha va s t oo k h ol d o f h is g ob le t, w hi ch m at ch ed t he o th er . B ot h w er e d ec or at ed

w it h r el iefs o f P ho s, t he g od o f l ig ht and g oo dn es s, t ri um ph an t o ver h is etern al r iv al S ko to s, w ho d welt i n

e te rn al i ce a nd d ar kn es s a nd w or ke d e vi l. R ha va s a nd N eb ou lo s r ai se d t he ir h an ds i n r ev er en ce a nd

i nt on ed t he go od go d' s c re ed: " We bl es s t he e, Ph os , l or d wi th t he gr ea t a nd goo d m ind , by t hy g ra ce o ur

protector, watchful beforehand that the great test of life may be decided in our favor."

T og et her, t hey s pat i n r it ual r ej ecti on o f S ko to s. O nl y t hen cou ld R havas d ri nk . N ot even h is f er ocio us

t em per k ep t h im f ro m n ot in g t hat N eb ou lo s h ad s er ved h im v er y f in e w in e.He wants to soften me, to

butter me up , the younger man thought savagely.Well, to the ice with me if I aim to let him .

" Op po rt un it y?" R havas l aced t he w or d w it h s co rn . " Wh er e i s t here ever o pp or tu ni ty o ut si de V id es so s

the city?"

" By t he g oo d g od , R havas, o pp or tu ni ty i s w here y ou f in d i t. " N eb ou lo s s ketched P ho s' s un -cir cle abo ve

hi s he ar t t o s how he wa s s er io us . " You w er e b or n he re i n t he c ap it al ; p er ha ps t hi s i s n ot s o pl ai n t o yo u.Bu t I c om e f rom R es ai na , i n t he we st la nd s. I r os e t he re . Ha d I not r is en t he re , I wo ul d not s it he re no w. "

H e r an a h an d d ow n h is g li tt er in g p at ri ar ch al v es tm en ts , w hi ch s eemed o ut o f p lace i n t he com fo rt ab ly

shabby, scroll-filled study.

" Yes, y es ," R havas s ai d, s ti ll f ul l o f r ag e and i mp at ience. " Bu t Iam he re. I c an ri se he re. Doe s

S kop en tz ana h ave a d ec ent l ibr ar y? Do es i t h ave a l ibr ar y a t a ll ? Ho w a m I s uppo se d t o s tud y t he goo d

g od and h is g lo ry w it ho ut t he t oo ls o f s ch ol ar sh ip ?"

"Skopentzana will have books. Skopentzana is rich, rich in many things," Neboulos answered. "Among

t he t hi ng s i t i s r ic h i n i s t he c ha nc e f or y ou t o a dmi ni st er a m aj or t em pl e. Y ou w il l no t f in dt h a t c h an ce s o

e as y t o c om e by he re i n t he c api ta l, no ma tt er how hi gh your bl ood i s."

" Oh ." R ha va s w as s ud de nl y t ho ug ht fu l. N ow h e h ad t o f ig ht t o h ol d o n t o h is a ng er . A nd f ig ht he d id.


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" Ru nn in g a t em pl e n ev er d id s eem all t hat excit in g t o m e. I 'd s oo ner f ol lo w P ho s t han l ead m en ."

"But , my dea r . . ." For a moment, Neboulos s ee med at a los s how to go on. He st roke d his unkempt

wh it e b ea rd. Th at s ee me d t o gi ve hi m wh at eve r he ne ede d, f or h e w ent on, " As you s ee , I a m ol d. I s ha ll

not be patriarch much longer."

"M os t h ol y s ir , m ay y ou l iv e a h un dr ed and t went y y ears !" R havas exclaim ed .

" Yo u a re k ind t o s ay s uc h a t hi ng . B el ie ve m e, I a m g ra te ful , b ut I s ha ll no t l iv e a h un dr ed a nd t we nt y

ye ar s. A t m y a ge , one d oe s not c om me nc e a l on g e xe ge si s on P ho s' h ol y s cr ip tur es . I d o no t kn ow w ho

wi ll s uc ce ed me ; t ha t i s f or t he s yno d a nd t he A vt ok ra tor t o de ci de . But I ha ve a go od no ti on of wh o

m ay s ucceed m y s uccess or ."

" Yo u d o? H ow ?" T o R ha va s, t he p at ri ar ch 's s pe ec h w as a s o pa qu e a s i f h e' d s ud de nl y s ta rt ed u si ng t he

l an gu ag e o f t he s ea-r ov in g H al og a b ar bari an s w ho d welt b ey on d even d is tant S ko pent zana.

R havas alw ay s r em em bered h ow N eb ou lo s s mi led at h is n a vet. " Wh o? W hy , y ou , o f cou rs e. " T heecu meni cal p at ri ar ch 's r ig ht f or ef in ger w as b en t w it h age, b ut n ot t oo b en t t o p oi nt s tr ai gh t at R havas'

chest.

" Me ?" R ha va s' vo ic e r os e t o a s ta rt le d s qu ea k. " I n ev er w ant ed t o b e p at ri ar ch. I n ev er t ho ug ht t o be

patriarch. Why me?"

" Yo ur m od es ty d oes y ou credi t, h ol y s ir ." N eb ou lo s chu ck led r heum il y. " Wh y y ou ? Y ou are a l earn ed

m an . Y ou a re a w is e m an . I f y ou w il l f or gi ve a n o ld m an 's o bs er va ti on , y ou a re w is er a nd m or e l ea rn ed

t ha n y ou h av e a ny b us in es s b ei ng a t y ou r a ge . T ha t i s o ne s id e o f t he g ol dp ie ce . T he o th er s id e i s, y ou

h av e a c onn ec ti on t o t he i mp er ia l f am il y. T he A vt ok ra to r i s l ik el y t o w an t a m an w ho c an r un t he t em pl es

w el l and i s n ot i ncli ned t o q uarr el w it h h im ."

" He ma y not ge t wha t he wa nt s." R ha va s ha d a pr ic kl y s ens e of honor a nd a n e ve n pr ic kl ie r s ens e of

d ut y. " I w il l d o w ha t I f ind r ig ht a nd w ha t I f in d p ro pe r, c om e w ha t m ay ."

" I u nd er st an d, " N eb ou lo s s ai d. " Bl oo d c al ls t o b lo od e ve n s o. M y g ue ss i s, y ouwill be

patriarchprovided you do what you need to do before you don the golden robe. You must be watchful

beforehand that the great test is decided in your favor." He smiled at using the words of the creed in a

new context.

B y c on tr as t, R ha va s f ro wn ed . H e s us pe ct ed f ri vo li ty t he re . N o m at te r w ha t h e s us pe ct ed , h e d id n' t l et i td et er h im f ro m h is m ai n p oi nt : " Wh y s en d m e t o S ko pent zana, t hen?"

" How c an you hope t o run a ll the t em pl es i f you ha ve not s how n you c an r un a t le as t one ?" Ne boul os

r ep li ed . " Th er e i s t he r ea so n b eh in d i t to l et y ou r un a t em pl e a nd t o t ea ch y ou t o r un o ne . H av in g

proved you can do that, you will, I doubt not, be recalled to Videssos the city before too long. Someday,

y ou w il l p lo p y ou r f un da me nt o nt o t hi s r at ty o ld c ou ch . W he n y ou d o, I p ra y y ou , t hi nk o f m e e ve ry on ce

in a while."

F or s om e l it tl e w hi le , R ha va s d id n' t k no w w ha t t o s ay t o t ha t. A t l as t, s of tl y, h e a sk ed , " Yo u b el ie ve i n

y ou r h eart I s ho ul d d o t hi s t hi ng ?"

N eb ou lo s s ke tc he d t he s un -c ir cl e o nc e m or e. " By t he l or d w it h t he g re at a nd g oo d m in d, m y s on , I d o.

Vi de ss os wi ll ha ve ne ed of you in ye ars t o come . The fa ith wi ll ha ve ne ed of you as we ll. I c oul d


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c om ma nd y ou . H ow ev er p ro ud y ou m ay b e, I a m s ti ll y ou r s up er io r i n m at te rs e cc le si as ti ca l. B ut I d o n ot

com mand h er e. I b eg ."

Rh ava s b ent h is he ad. " So be i t, t he n. Le t t he go od go d' s w il l be d one ."

* * *

F if te en y ea rs w en t b y. A ft er a f ew o f t he m, N eb ou lo s p as se d f ro m t hi s w or ld , h is s pi ri t w al ki ng t hen ar ro w B ri dg e o f t he S ep ar at or t o s ee w he th er i t g ai ne d P ho s' h ea ve n o r f el l d ow n, d ow n, d ow n t o

S ko to s' e te rn al i ce . H is s uc ce ss or , a c er ta in K am en ia te s, w as t ra ns la te d t o V id es so s t he c it y f ro m t he

w es tl an ds t ow n o f A mo ri on , w he re h e h ad b ee n p re la te .

S o f ar a s R ha va s k ne w, K am en ia te s r em ai ne d i n g oo d h ea lt h. T ha t p er tu rb ed t he p re la te o f

S ko pe nt za na m uc h l es s t ha n i t w ou ld h av e w he n h e f ir st c am e t o t he f ar n or th ea st o f t he E mp ir e. H e h ad

m ad e h is p ea ce w it h t hi s, h is ne w h om et ow n. I t w as n ot V id es so s t he c it y. N ot hi ng e ls e i n t he E mp ir e,

n ot hi ng els e i n t he w or ld n ot even M as hi z, t he cap it al o f V id es so s' w es tern r iv al , M ak ur an cam e

c lo se t o V id es so s t he c it y.

B ut S ko pent zana w as i ts el f. B ef or e com in g h er e, R havas w ou ld h av e d en ied t hat any p lace o ut si de t he

i mp er ial cit y cou ld h av e an i dent it y o f i ts o wn , a charact er o f i ts o wn . E very th in g b ey on d t he g reat ,

un con qu er ab le w al ls w as s imp ly . . . t he p rov inc es , a s f ar a s he w as c on ce rne d. T he pr ovi nc es w er e a

d re ar y p la ce w he re n ot hi ng i nt er es ti ng e ve r h ap pe ne d, w he re n o o ne h ad o r w an te d t o h av e a n ew

t ho ug ht , a nd w he re s he ph er ds w er e l ik el y t o g et t o k no w t he ir e we s a lt og et he r t oo w el l.

H e h ad l ea rn ed b et te r n ow . S ko pe nt za na h ad a l iv el y l if e o f t he m in d, t ho ug h n ot e xa ct ly o f t he s or t h e

h ad k no wn i n V id es so s t he cit y. H er e, t hey t ho ug ht m en f ro m t he cap it al p ro vi ncial b ecau se t ho se m en

k ne w n ot hi ng o f w ha t w en t o n i n H al og al an d t o t he n or th o r a mo ng t he K ha mor th n om ad s o n t he v as t

plains of Pardraya to the west. Even poetry was different here. Imitating Haloga models, it gave more

w ei gh t t o all it er at io n and ass on an ce, l es s t o r hy me, t han v er se d id i n t he cap it al . R havas h ad t ri ed h ish an d a t t he l oc al s ty le a f ew t im es , a nd w on p ra is e f ro m m en w ho se j ud gm en t h e r es pe ct ed .

H e h ad n' t e xp ec te d t ha t w he n h e c am e. H e a ls o h ad n' t e xp ec te d t ha t S ko pe nt za na w ou ld b e b ea ut if ul .

B ut b eaut if ul i t w as , t ho ug h b eaut if ul i n w ay s t hat h ad n ot hi ng t o d o w it h t he m aj es ty o f t he cap it al 's s ev en

h il ls . T he R iv er A na za rb os r an s in gi ng t o t he s ea p as t t hi s c it y. E ve ry o th er p oe m i n t he se p ar ts t al ke d

a bout t he ri ve r a nd i ts ba nks of gol de n s and. Rha va s woul d ha ve got s ic k of t he poe tr y i f i t di dn' t te ll t he

t ru th. Th er e we re t ime s w he n he g ot s ic k of t he po et ry a nywa y, bu t t ha t wa s on ly be ca us e he ha d t oo

m uch of t he cri ti c i n h im .

D ar k w oo ds o f f ir a nd s pr uc e, w in te rs t ha t c am e e ar ly a nd l in ge re d l at e, l on g m is ty d ay s o f s um me r whe n it s eem ed a s i f the s un woul d ne ver s et . . . The s unli ght ha d a pe cul iar ly ri ch t one i n t he nor th, one

m ad e m or e i nt en se b y t he y el lo w s an ds to ne f ro m w hi ch s o m uch o f S ko pent zana w as b ui lt . R havas h ad

t o g et us ed t o t he s te ep p it ch of t he r oo fs . As s oo n a s h e s aw s no w s li de d own t he m, h e u nde rs to od.

H e a ls o h ad t o g et u se d t o p re ac hi ng i n t he t em pl e t ha t, w it h t he c it y e pa rc h' s r es id en ce , f or me d t wo

s id es o f S ko pent zana's cen tr al s qu ar e. M os t t emp les t hr ou gh ou t t he E mp ir e, f ro m w hat h e h ad h eard ,

modeled themselves after the magnificent High Temple in the capital. He'd expected one more provincial

c op y h er e, a nd b ra ce d h im se lf t o j ud ge i t b y h ow n ea rl y i t a pp ro ac he d i ts p ro to ty pe .

W ha t h e h ad n' t e xp ec te d w as t ha t t he c hi ef t em pl e i n S ko pe nt za na w as a s o ld a s t he H ig h T em pl e, a nd

a s dif fe rent f rom i t a s br ea d and be er. ( He 'd ha d t o ge t us ed t o be er , too, as wine was an e xpe ns ive

i mp or t i n t he se p ar ts w he re g ra pe s w ou ld n' t g ro w. H e l ea rn ed t o d ri nk t he b it te r b re w. H e n ev er l ea rn ed

t o l ik e i t. ) T he H ig h T em pl e' s g re at d om e m ou nt ed o n p en de nt iv es w as a w on de r o f t he w or ld . T he


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m ar velo us m os ai c o f P ho s s tern i n j ud gm en t i ns id e t he d om e w as ano th er .

S ko pe nt za na 's c hi ef t em pl e h ad n o c en tr al d om e. W he n R ha va s f ir st s aw i t, h e e xc la im ed , " It l oo ks a s i f

s om eo ne u se d a n u ps id e- do wn s hi p f or t he r oo f! " S hi ps w er e o n h is m in d t he n. H e' d b ee n s ea si ck m uc h

of t he w ay up f rom Vi de ss os t he c it y, a nd t he ve ss el t ha t c ar ri ed hi m on t he l as t l eg of the j our ne y ha d t o

o ut r ace H al og a p ir at es t o s af ety .

I n f ac t, a s he f ou nd out l at er , he wa sn 't s o f ar w rong . On e o f t he i ns pi ra ti ons f or t he t em pl e wa s a

H al og a l on gh ou se , a nd l on gh ou se s o ft en w er e r oo fe d w it h s hi ps t oo d ec re pi t t o p ut t o s ea . I t m ad e f or a

d if fe re nt s or t o f b ui ldi ng a nd , i n s om e w ay s, a di ff er en t s or t o f s er vi ce . I n t he H ig h T em pl e, t he a lt ar w as

a t t he v er y c en te r o f t hi ng s, u nd er t he d om e, w it h w or sh ip er s a ll a ro un d i n e qu al n um be rs . H er e t he re

w er e w or sh ip er s i n f ro nt a nd b eh in d, b ut v er y f ew t o t he s id es . T he p ri es ts w ho s er ve d t he a lt ar

n eces sari ly adapt ed t o t he s hape o f t he b ui ld in g t hey u sed.

O n t he d ay w he n R ha va s' l if e c ha ng ed f or ev er , h e w as s ta nd in g i n t he c en tr al s qu ar e, b et we en t he

eparch' s r es id en ce and t he t emp le. S tatu es o f l ocall y f am ou s V id es si ans cro wd ed t he s qu ar e. L ar ges t

w as a g re at b ro nz e o f t he A vt ok ra to r S ta vr ak io s, t he g re at c on qu er or o f t wo c en tu ri es b ef or e.S ur ro un di ng h im i n b ro nze and m ar bl e and t he l ocal g ol den s an ds to ne w er e l es ser f ig ur es . T hey all

s ee me d t o l oo k t o h im f or p er mi ss io n t o s ta nd t he re . I t w as a n i ll us io n, b ut a n e ff ec ti ve o ne .

R ha va s h ap pe ne d t o b e l oo ki ng u p a t S ta vr ak io s, t oo . E ve n w it h a p ig eo n d ro pp in g o n h is n os e, t he o ld

A vt ok ra to r l oo ke d l ik e a t ou gh c us to me r. B y e ve ry th in g R ha va s k ne w o f h im , h e h ad b ee n a t ou gh

c us to me r. H e' d m ad e b ot h t he H al og ai a nd t he M ak ur an er s f ea r h im , n o m ea n f ea t w he n t he y d we lt a t

o pp os i te end s o f t he E mp ir e.

A p re tt y w om an l ea di ng a t od dl er d ro pp ed R ha va s a c ur ts y. " Go od m or ni ng , v er y h ol y s ir ," s he

murmured.

" An d a g oo d m or ni ng t o y ou . M ay P ho s b le ss y ou o n i t, " R ha va s a ns we re d g ra ve ly . T he w om an w al ke d

o n. H e eyed h er w it h t he s am e carefu l con si derat io n h e' d g iv en t o S tavr ak io s' s t at ue. P ho s' p ri es t ho od

w as c el ib at e. S om e p ri es ts , b ei ng m en l ik e a ny o th er s, f lo ut ed t he r ul e. R ha va s s co rn ed t he m. S om e k ep t

i t, t ho ug h i t ate i nt o t heir f lesh l ik e t he i ro n s hack les aro un d t he ank les o f s laves and con vi ct s con demn ed

t o t he m in es . R havas p it ied t hem. H e u su al ly w or e t he s hack les o f cel ib acy l ig ht ly , even p ro ud ly . E very s o

of te n, t ho ugh . . .

H is m ou th w as n ev er w id e, n or p ar ti cu la rl y g en er ou s. N ow i t n ar ro we d t o a t hi n, h ar d l in e. H e

de li be rat el y tur ne d his ba ck on t he woma n and he r l it tl e gi rl . Out of si ght . . . Out of s ight did not me an

o ut o f m in d, n ot h er e, h ow ev er m uc h R ha va s w is he d i t w ou ld . T ho ug h h e l oo ke d a t t he w om an n o m or e,h e s aw h er p er ha ps m or e p la in ly t ha n e ve r.

H e kne w s in i n ot he rs . P ar t of hi s pe cul ia r s or t of pr ide wa s t o know i t i n hi ms el f a s we ll . He s ke tc he d

P ho s' s un -cir cl e abo ve h is h eart and m ur mu red p rayers again st t he w eakn es s o f h is f lesh . D es pi te t ho se

f er vent p rayers , t he m em or y o f t he w om an 's s mi le and s of t v oi ce l in gered.

An d t he n, i n a n od d w ay, t he g ood g od h ea rd hi s p ra ye rs a nd a ns we re d t he m. U p f ro m t he s out he rn

g at e, t he g at e f ar th es t f ro m t he r iv er , c am e a d is pa tc h r id er o n a h or se h e l as he d i nt o a g al lo p, t ho ug h i t

w as n' t f ar f ro m f ou nd er in g. " Ou t o f m y w ay ! O ut o f m y w ay , c ur se yo u! " t he r ide r s ho ut ed a t a ny on e i n

hi s pa th. He f li cke d hi s whi p not onl y a t t he poor hor se b ut a ls o a t a nyon e wh o di d not m ove o ut of t he

wa y f as t e nough to s uit him . C ri es of r age a nd pa in r os e up i n hi s w ak e.

H er e w as s om et hi ng o ut o f t he o rd in ar y. R ha va s f or go t a bo ut t he p re tt y w om an a s h e s ta re d a t t he


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d is pa tc h r id er t hu nd er in g a cr os s t he s qu ar e. T he m an l ea pe d d ow n f ro m t he h or se a nd t os se d t he r ei ns t o

o ne o f t he s ta rt le d s en tr ie s i n f ro nt o f t he e pa rc h' s r es id en ce . T he n, s ti ll o n t he d ea d r un , h e d as he d i ns id e.

O ut o f t he o rd in ar y i nd ee d, a nd n ot a g oo d o me n, n ot a t a ll . S om et hi ng s om ew he re i n t he E mp ir e m us t

h av e g on e b ad ly w ro ng . F ro wn in g, R havas h ur ri ed t ow ar d t he r es id en ce. T he s en tr ies, even t he m an

h ol di ng t he l at he re d h or se 's r ei ns , b ow ed l ow a s h e c am e u p. " Ve ry h ol y s ir ," t he y c ho ru se d.

T h e h or se 's s id es h ea ve d. I ts n os tr il s g lo we d r ed a s c oa ls . O ve r i ts p an ti ng , R ha va s a sk ed , " Di d t he

courier say anything before he went inside?"

" On ly t ha t h e h ad t o s ee t he e pa rc h r ig ht a wa y, " o ne o f t he s ol di er s a ns we re d. L ik e h is c om ra de s, h e

w or e a c on ic al h el me t w it h a b ar n as al , a m ai ls hi rt , a nd b ag gy w oo l t ro us er s t uc ke d i nt o s to ut b oo ts t ha t

r os e a lmos t t o hi s kne es . H e he ld a g ro unde d pi ke i n hi s r ight ha nd; a s wor d i n a wor n l ea the r s he at h

hung from his belt.

" No t a w or d m or e t ha n t ha t, t he m is er ab le d og ," a no th er s en tr y a dd ed i ra te ly . H e w as a s wa rt hy m an

w it h a w id e f or eh ea d, a n ar ro w c hi n, a nd s ha rp c he ek bo ne s: a t yp ic al V id es si an , i n o th er w or ds . H isi nd ig nati on at t he cou ri er 's s il en ce w as als o t yp ical . R havas h ad p reached s er mo ns o n t he V id es si an l ov e

f or g os si p. H e f ea re d t he y d id n' t s tr ik e h om e a s w el l a s s om e o f h is o th er s er mo ns . H e m ig ht a s w el l h av e

preached against eating. Lust for gossip and news was as much a part of the Videssian character as a

cravi ng f or g oo d f oo d.

E mb ar ra ss me nt s ud de nl y h ea te d R ha va s' c he ek s a nd h is e ar s a nd t he s ha ve n c ro wn o f h is h ea d.Why,

here I am, guilty of the very sin I've thundered against from the pulpit , h e t ho ug ht . H e p ro mi se d

h im se lf p en it en ti al p ra ye rs b ef or e a n i ma ge o f t he go od g od . E ve n a s h e m ad e t he p ro mi se , t ho ug h, h e

w on de re d w he th er c ar ryi ng i t o ut w ou ld s uf fi ce t o u pr oo t t he s in h e' d f ou nd i ns id e h is o wn b os om . H e

h op ed a nd d ou bt ed a t t he s am e t im e.

S ti ff ly , h e s ai d, " If t he m os t h on or ab le Z au tz es l ea rn s a ny th ing I s ho ul d kn ow , I h op e h e wi ll d o m e t he

cou rt es y o f cal li ng o n m e at m y r es id en ce."

" I' m s ur e he w il l, v er y ho ly s ir ," o ne o f t he s en tr ie s s ai d.

R havas w as als o s ur e o f i t. T he civ il adm in is tr at io n and t he t em pl es s to od s ho ul der t o s ho ul der i n r ul in g

t he Em pi re . And e ve n i f t he y ha dn' t . . . Eve n i f t he y ha dn' t, Za ut ze s woul d ha ve be en a f ool no t t o

c on su lt t he m an w ho w as n ot o nl y p re la te o f S ko pe nt za na b ut a ls o t he A vt ok ra to r' s c ou si n. R ha va s h ad

no gr ea t l ove f or Z aut ze s; t he ma n w as a l ec he r, a nd a ls o o ve rf ond of wi ne , a t l ea st by t he p re la te 's

a us te re s ta nd ar ds . B ut n o o ne c ou ld e ve r a cc us e t he e pa rc h o f b ei ng a f oo l.

T ur ni ng, R ha va s w en t ba ck t ow ar d t he t em pl e. T hi s t im e, h e s tr ol le d i ns te ad o f s tr id in g. A s i f h e w er e a

t ra ve le r f ro m a fa r, h e s to pp ed d ea d a nd a dm ir ed e ac h s ta tu e i n t ur n. H e l in ge re d l on ge st a t t he g re at

bronze of Stavrakios. He remembered doing the same thing when he first came to Skopentzana all those

y ea rs e ar li er . H e r ea ll y h ad b ee n a t ra ve le r f ro m a fa r t he n. N o m or e.

T hi s t im e, h is d aw dl in g h ad m et ho d i n i t. T he s qu ar e c ou ld n' t h av e b ee n m or e t ha n a b ow sh ot w id e.

E ven s o, R havas h ad n' t com pl et el y cro ss ed i t b ef or e s om eo ne s ho ut ed o ut h is n am e f ro m t he d ir ecti on o f

t he e pa rc h' s r es id en ce . H e t ur ne d, a s i f i n s ur pr is e.

Th er e s to od Z au tzes h im self , w av in g and d oi ng every th in g t hi s s id e o f j um pi ng u p and d ow n t o cat ch h is

n ot ice. G ravely , R havas w av ed b ack. Z au tzes h ur ri ed t ow ar d h im . T he eparch alw ay s p ut R havas i n

mind of a frog. He wa s shor t and squa t. He had a wide fac e, a br oa d mouth, a re ce di ng c hi n, and eyes


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t ha t t hr ea te ne d t o b ul ge o ut o f h is h ea d.

F ro gs , h ow ev er , d id n ot com mo nl y w ear f ur -edg ed s il k r ob es s ho t t hr ou gh w it h g ol d and s il ver t hr eads .

Nor did frogs wear boots trimmed with red. Those boots symbolized Zautzes' own connection with the

A vt ok ra to r. O nl y t he r ul er h im se lf w as a ll ow ed a p ai r a ll o f r ed .

T he t wo l ea de rs o f S ko pe nt za na b ow ed t o e ac h o th er . " Ve ry h ol y s ir ," Z au tz es s ai d, h is v oi ce a g ra ve ll ybass.

"Most honorable sir." Rhavas' voice was only slightly higher, but much smoother.

" You wi ll know a c our ier ha s c ome t o me wi th ne ws. You wi ll a ls o know he c ame wi th, a h, a c ert ai n

amo un t o f u rg en cy ." Z au tzes even b li nk ed l ik e a f ro g. T he m ot io n w as s lo w and d el ib er at e and i nv ol ved

h is w ho le f ace.

" I ha d ga the re d s ome th ing t o t ha t e ff ec t, y es ." Rha va s w as n ot a bout t o l et t he e pa rc h wi n a ba tt le of

u nd er st at em en ts . " Of c ou rs e, i f i t' s n on e o f m y b us in es s I 'l l j us t g o b ac k t o t he t em pl e a nd f in d o ut a bo uti t f ro m m y coo k o r t he clean in g w om an ."

Th at m ad e Z au tzes b li nk again , even m or e ext ravagant ly t han b ef or e. " Well , v er y h ol y s ir , i t d oes h av e

s om ew ha t t o d o w it h y ou . Y es , s om ew ha t, b y P ha os ." T he e pa rc h w as f ro m t he se p ar ts , a nd

pronounced the good god's name in the old-fashioned, two-syllable way. In the capital, they'd clipped it

down to one. Zautzes gathered himself. "D'you know Stylianos, the grand domestikos?"

"I me t h im a f ew t im es w he n he c am e i nt o V ide ss os t he c it y, bu t h e w as u su al ly o n c am pa ign e ve n t he n, "

R ha va s a ns we re d. " I c an 't s ay I k no w h im w el l, t ho ug h. W hy d o y ou a sk ? H as s om et hi ng h ap pe ne d t o

h im ? I h op e n ot ."

H e m ea nt t ha t. S ty li an os w as a g oo d g en er al , p ro ba bl y t he b es t g ra nd d om es ti ko s t he E mp ir e h ad h ad i n

a t l ea st a h un dr ed y ea rs . H is f or ay s o nt o t he P ar dr ay an p la in s h ad w ar ne d t he K ha mo rt h n om ad s t ha t

t heir r ai ds i nt o i mp er ial t er ri to ry w ou ld n ot b e t ol er at ed . F ew V id es si an com mand er s h ad ever h it b ack

effectively at the plainsmen. Stylianos made a welcome exception.

But Rha vas didn't care for the way Za utzes stared at him: as if he were a fl y to be snapped up with a

f li ck o f t he t on gu e. T he eparch s ai d, " So meth in g' s h ap pened t o h im , all r ig ht , v er y h ol y s ir . H e' s

proclaimed himself Avtokrator of the Videssians, and he's moving against the city." To Videssians from

o ne e nd o f t he E mp ir e t o t he o th er , t he g re at i mp er ia l c ap it al w asthe city.

" Ph os !" R havas m ut tered, and s ketched t he s un -cir cl e o ver h is h eart . " Malein os w il l n ot t ak e t hat l yi ng

d ow n, m os t h on or ab le s ir . H e w il l f ig ht t o h ol d t he t hr on e, and f ig ht w it h every th in g t hat' s i n h im . Y ou

a ske d if I kne w St yl ia nos , a nd I don' t, no t we ll . But I know m y c ou sin . I know w ha t he wi ll do."

B it tern es s f il led h is v oi ce: " He r ai sed S ty li an os u p t o b e g rand d om es ti ko s. I s t hi s t he t hank s h e g et s?"

" S o i t w ou ld s eem, " Z au tzes s ai d, an ans wer w ho se b reat ht ak in g cyn icis m l ef t even t he s ar do ni c R havas

a t a l os s. I nt o t he p re la te 's s il en ce , Z au tz es w en t o n, " It 's b ee n a w hi le s in ce t he E mp ir e' s l as t c iv il w ar .

I 'm a fr ai d w e' ve g ot a n ew on e o n our ha nds ."

" I' m afr ai d y ou 'r e r ig ht ," R havas s ai d. " Fo r t hat alo ne, S ty li an os w il l b e d am ned t o S ko to s' etern al i ce."

Now Zautzes was the one who didn't respond right away. Rhavas raised an eyebrow. In a very soft

v oi ce , h e a sk ed , " Or d o y ou d is ag re e, m os t h on or ab le s ir ? M al ei no s r ai se d y ou u p, t oo , y ou k no w. "


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" I w an t p ea ce i n t he E mp ir e, " Z au tz es s ai d. " Wh oe ve r c an g ive m e t ha t, I 'm f or ."

T ha t w as a n a ns we r t ha t w as n ot a n a ns we r. R ha va s' t on e g re w s ha rp er : " If t he w ou ld -b e u su rp er c om es

t o S ko pent zana, w il l t hi s cit y w el co me h im o r clo se i ts g at es again st h im ?"

" Yo u w ou ld d o b et te r t o a sk H im er io s t ha n m e. " Z au tz es s ou nd ed s ul le n, r es en ti ng b ei ng p ut o n t he s po t.

R havas g ru nt ed . T he g ar ri so n H im er io s com mand ed w as i nt en ded t o p ro tect S ko pent zana f ro m H al og a

pirate ships rowing up the Anazarbos. It wasn't very big; the blond barbarians hadn't been troublesome

l at el y. A nd H im er io s h ad alw ay s s eemed con tent eno ug h w it h l it tl e t o d o and s cant r es ou rces w it h w hi ch

to do it. Now . . .

N ow R havas and Z au tzes m ig ht n ot b e t he m os t i mp or tant , m os t p ow er fu l m en i n S ko pent zana aft er all .

T hat r ol e m ig ht b el on g t o t he g ar ri so n com mand er . R havas n od ded b ri sk ly t o t he eparch. " No d ou bt

y ou 'r e r ig ht , m os t h on or ab le s ir . I h ad b et te r d o t ha t. "

Z au tz es l oo ke d n o h app ie r. R ha va s h ad a ha rd t im e b la mi ng h im . T he e pa rc h h ad t o g o o n r un ni ngSk ope nt za na a s i f no thi ng w er e wr ong. H e ha d t o c ol le ct t he he ad t ax a nd t he he ar th t ax a s us ua l. H e h ad

t o s ee t ha t j us ti ce w as do ne , t ha t t he c it y' s wa ll s a nd pub li c bui ldi ng s we re r epa ir ed . . . a nd t ha t who eve r

w on t he c iv il w ar w ou ld n' t t hi nk h e' d b ac ke d t he o th er s id e.

W it h a c ur t b ow , R ha va s t ur ne d a wa y. H e d id n' t w an t Z au tz es t o s ee ho w w or ri ed h e w as . M os t

prelates throughout the Empire would be making the same calculations as the local eparchs. Rhavas

d idn 't h av e t ha t b ur de n or w as i t a l ux ur y? S ty li an os w ou ld a ss um e h e w as l oy al t o hi s c ou si n, t he

A vt ok rat or , and t he r eb el w ou ld b e r i gh t.

O ut o f t he c or ne r o f h is e ye , R ha va s s aw Z au tz es w ad dl e b ac k t ow ar d h is r es id en ce . T ha t g av e t he

prelate the privacy he needed to swear under his breath. Maleinos had proved himself a reasonably goodA vt ok ra to r, a nd a r ea so na bl y a bl e o ne a s w el l. R ha va s w ou ld n' t h av e w or ri ed a bo ut m os t r eb el s; h e

w ou ld h av e b een con fi dent h is cou si n cou ld p ut t hem d ow n i n s ho rt o rd er .

Stylianos? Stylianos was a different story.

A m an w it h t he b ro ad s ho ul de rs , h ea t- re dd en ed f ac e, a nd b at te re d h an ds o f a b la ck sm it h c am e u p t o

R ha va s. " Is s om et hi ng w ro ng , v er y ho ly s ir ?" h e a ske d. " Yo u l oo k l ik e y ou j us t w at ch ed a n o xc ar t r un

o ver y ou r p up ."

R h av as l oo ked at h im l oo ked t hr ou gh h im . T he b lacks mi th 's f ace g ot r ed der y et .It isn't his fault , theprelate reminded himself, trying to be charitable. Charity didn't come easy, not now. "I'm afraid, my good

m an , t ha t i t' s n ow he re n ea r s o t ri vi al a s t ha t. "

The blacksmith walked off scratching his head.

* * *

H im er io s d id n' t b oast any th in g f an cy eno ug h t o b e cal led a r es id en ce. H e l iv ed i n an o rd in ar y h ou se, o ne

just like the others along its street. Its ground floor was built of the local golden sandstone, its upper story

o f t im be r no w pa le w it h y ea rs o f w ea th er in g. T he o nl y o pe ni ng i n t he g ro und f lo or w as t he do or wa y, a nd

t he d oo r, o f t hi ck p la nk s r ei nf or ce d w it h i ro n, c ou ld h av e d on e d ut y i n a f or tr es s. T he u pp er s to ry

boasted a couple of windows with stout wooden shutters that could be closed tight against the biting cold

o f w in te r. A s u su al i n S ko pe nt za na , t he s la te s o n t he r oo f w er e s te ep ly p it ch ed , s o s no w w ou ld s li de o ff

instead of sticking.


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R ha va s k no ck ed o n t ha t f or mi da bl e d oo r. T wo b oy s k ic ki ng a b al l b ac k a nd f or th i n t he n ar ro w, m ud dy

s tr ee t g av e h im a n o dd l oo k; i t w as n' t t he s or t o f n ei gh bo rh oo d w he re p ri es ts a pp ea re d e ve ry d ay . A

s cr aw ny s tr ay d og r oo ti ng t hr ou gh r ub bi sh p ai d n o att en ti on t o h im . H e p referr ed t he d og 's att it ud e.

Wh en n o o ne a ns we re d, R ha va s k no ck ed a ga in , h ar de r. T hi s t im e, t he d oo r c re ak ed o pe n. T he re s to od

H im er io s, w ho s tared w it h even m or e s ur pr is e t han t he b oy s s ho wed. " Very h ol y s ir !" t he g ar ri so nc om ma nd er e xc la im ed . " To w ha t d o I o we t he h on or o f t hi s v is it ?" H e d id n' t s ay ,What do you want

from me? b ut that had to be what he me ant.

" Ma y I c om e i n? " R ha va s a sk ed .

"W el l, y es , o f c ou rs e. " H im er io s s to od a si de t o l et R ha va s d o s o. T he g ar ri so n c om ma nd er w as a s t al l

a nd l ea n a s Z au tz es wa s s ho rt a nd s qua t. H e e ve n ov er topp ed R ha va s, w ho w as f ar f ro m s ma ll , b y a

f inge r' s br ea dt h o r t wo . He h ad a l ong , a ngul ar f ac e, wi th a s ha rp nos e a nd a m ol e o n hi s r ight c he ek j us t

above his neatly trimmed fringe of lightly frosted beard.

S ev er al s to ol s a nd a t ab le f ur ni sh ed t he f ro nt r oo m, a lo ng w it h o ne w oo de n c ha ir n ea r t he h ea rt h.

H im er io s w av ed R ha va s t o t he c ha ir . R ha va s s ho ok h is h ea d. H e p er ch ed o n a s to ol i ns te ad ; t he c ha ir

w as p lain ly H im er io s' s peci al p lace. S ur e eno ug h, t he o ff icer w ho w or e a l oo se w oo l t un ic o ver b ag gy

breeches tucked into boots like most men in this cold northern citysat down there.

" In ge ge rd !" h e c al le d b ac k t o t he k it ch en . " Th e p re la te 's c om e t o p ay a c al l. F et ch u s s om e w in e a nd

honey cakes, please."

" Ye s, I w il l d o t ha t, " h is w if e a ns we re d. H er n am e s ai d s he c am e f ro m t he H al og a c ou nt ry . S o d id t he

sonorously musical accent that flavored her Videssian.

S he br oug ht ou t t he r ef re shme nt s o n a woo de n t ra y a c oupl e of m inut es l at er . She wa s a lm os t a s t al l a s

Rhavas herself, and exotically beautiful: fair-haired, fair-skinned, with granite cheekbones and chin and

w it h e ye s b lu er t ha n t he s ky a bo ve S ko pe nt za na . N o m at te r h ow r es ig ne d t o c el ib ac y R ha va s w as , h is

o wn eyes f ol lo wed h er emp hati call y cur ved s hape as s he s er ved h im and H im er io s.

" Very h ol y s ir ," s he m ur mu red, and s ketched t he s un -s ig n. U nl ik e m os t H al og ai , s he'd g iv en u p t he f ierce

g od s o f h er h om el an d f or t he l or d w it h t he g re at a nd g oo d m in d.

A ft er r ai si ng h is h an ds t o t he h eavens and s pi tt in g i n r it ual r ej ecti on o f S ko to s, R havas s ip ped t he w in e. I t

w as s we et a nd s tr ong a nd g ood a nd h e ne ede d br ac ing . H e t ook a bi te f ro m a h on ey c ak e. I t w as r ic hw it h w al nu ts a nd b ut te r. H e' d h ad t o g et u se d t o t ha t l as t; i n V id es so s t he c it y, w hi ch f av or ed o li ve o il

i ns te ad , u si ng b ut te r b ra nd ed o ne a b ar ba ri an . T he s tu ff d id s ta y f re sh b et te r h er e t ha n d ow n i n t he

capital.

Hi me ri os a ls o a te a nd d ra nk. S o di d I nge ge rd, wh o' d s at do wn on a s to ol a ft er s et ti ng t he t ra y o n t he

t ab le . H al og a w om en h ad a r ep ut at io n f or f or wa rd ne ss o f b ot h t he g oo d a nd t he b ad s or t; s he e vi de nt ly

l iv ed u p t o i t. R ha va s c lu ck ed , b ut o nl y t o h im se lf . T ho ugh h er f or wa rd ne ss b en t c us to m, i t b ro ke n o

religious law.

" Well , v er y h ol y s ir , w hat' s o n y ou r m in d?" H im er io s ask ed , s et ti ng h is p ew ter g ob let o n h is k nee.

B ef or e ans weri ng , R havas g lanced t ow ar d I ng eg er d. S he l oo ked b ack s tead il y, h er s cu lp tu red f eat ur es

all s er io us att en ti on . H im er io s s ti ll g av e n o s ig n o f s en di ng h er away. H ow ev er s tr an ge i t s eemed t o t he


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prelate, the garrison commander evidently wanted his wife to hear. With a small shrug, Rhavas passed on

the news: "The general Stylianos has rebelled against his Majesty, the Avtokrator Maleinos."

"Phos!" Himerios exclaimed, and then, hoping against hope, "You're sure?"

" As s ur e a s n ee ds be ," Rh ava s a ns we re d. " I ha ve i t j us t now f rom Za ut ze s t he e pa rc h, w ho ha s i t f ro m a

c ou ri er u p f ro m t he s ou th . I s aw t he c ou ri er r id e u p t o Z au tz es ' r es id en ce . H e a lm os t k il le d h is h or seg et ti ng h er e. H e t ho ug ht h is n ew s i mp or ta nt . I d id n ot h ea r i t f ro m h is o wn l ip s o r s ee t he d is pa tc h h e

bore, but I have no reason to doubt the eparch."

I ng eg er d s po ke w it h a m an 's , even a s ol di er 's , d ir ectn es s: " Th is can o nl y m ean civ il w ar . W ho w il l w in ?"

N in e w or ds , a nd s he 'd s ai d e ve ry th in g t ha t n ee de d s ay in g. R ha va s p ut t he b es t f ac e o n t hi ng s h e c ou ld :

" Ma le in os h as r ul ed f or m an y y ea rs . M os t p eo pl e a re l oy al t o h im . A nd h e h ol ds V id es so s t he c it y. N o

o ne c an c la im t o r ul e t he E mp ir e w it ho ut r ul in g t he c ap it al , a nd V id es so s t he c it y i s t he g re at es t f or tr es s i n

t he w or ld ." E ve ry w or d o f t ha t w as t ru e. I t w oul d h av e s pe ll ed t he r ui na ti on o f m os t u pr is in gs b ef or e t he y

we re well be gun. This one . . .

" St yl iano s i s S ty li an os ," H im er io s s ai d. " Vi dess os h as n' t s een t he l ik es o f h im f or a l on g t im e. " A nd t hat,

unfortunately, was also true.

I ng eg er d s ai d s om et hi ng i n h er o wn l an gu ag e. R ha va s k ne w n ot a w or d o f t he H al oga t on gu e. H e

w at ch ed H im er io s g iv e h im a s ud den s tart led l oo k.Did she just remind him I am Maleinos' cousin? To

the ice with me if I don't think she did .

B ut R ha va s t ho ug ht h e w ou ld h av e s ta ye d l oy al t o M al ei no s e ve n w it ho ut a b lo od t ie b et we en t he m. H e

s ai d, " Yo u n eed t o r em em ber t hat t he A vt ok rato r i s P ho s' v iceg er en t o n ear th . M al ei no s i s t he l eg it im at e

r ul er o f t he E mp ir e; h is f at her and g rand fath er r ul ed i t b ef or e h im . A nd w hat i s S ty li an os ? A w ou ld -b eu su rp er , s om eo ne w ho w ou ld t op pl e P ho s' v ic eg er en t. W ho w ou ld d o s uc h a t hi ng ? O nl y a m an w ho h as

t ak en S ko to s i nt o h is h ea rt ." A ga in , h e c er em on ia ll y s pa t i n r ej ec ti on o f t he d ar k g od .

S o d id H im er io s a nd I ng eg er d. A ll o rt ho do x b el ie ve rs i n V id es so s h ad f ai th t ha t i n t he e nd P ho s w ou ld

prevail over Skotos, good would prevail over evil. To believe otherwise was to fall into blackest heresy,

a nd s ur el y t o f or fe it one 's s oul t o t he i ce of t he d ar k g od' s he ll .

A ll t he s am e, H im er io s s ai d, " Su pp os e S ty li an os w in s, v er y h ol y s ir ? I 'm n ot s ay in g h e w il l, m in d y ou , b ut

just suppose, all right? He'd become Avtokrator, right?"

"He would still be a usurper," Rhavas said stiffly. Maleinos' grandfatherhis own grandmother's

brotherhad been a usurper, too, but he didn't bring that up. To be fair, he didn't even think of it.

"He wouldn'tjust b e a u su rp er . H e' d b e t he A vt ok ra to r, t oo . H e' d w ea r t he r ed b oo ts ," H im er io s

persisted. "Wouldn't that makehim Phos' vicegerent on earth?"

R ha va s w as a n h on es t m an . H e' d n ev er i ma gi ne d h e w ou ld w is h h e w er en 't . H er e, h e d id . M ak in g a s ou r

f ace, h e ans wered, " Tech ni call y, y es , b ut t he s in o f r eb el li on w ou ld s ti ll l ie h eavi ly u po n h im . T he p at ri ar ch

m ig ht w el l r eq ui re p en an ce b ef or e h e cou ld w or sh ip i n t he H ig h T em pl e. "

I n gegerd s po ke again i n t he H al og a t on gu e, s harp ly t hi s t im e. H im er io s g av e h er an i mp at ient n od . T hen

h e s wu ng h is a tt ent ion b ac k t o R ha va s. " I d o t ha nk y ou f or b ri ng in g m e t hi s ne ws , v er y h ol y s ir . N ow , i f

c ivi l w ar s houl d c om e t o S kope nt za na , I wi ll know w ha t t o d o. Phos p re ve nt i t, but i f i t s houl d . . . " He


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m ade t he s ign o f t he goo d g od a bov e hi s br ea st .

S o d id h is w if e. A nd s o d id R ha va s. T he p re la te l ef t H im er io s' h ou se a f ew m in ut es l at er , c er ta in t he

g ar ri so n c om ma nd er h ad s ai d h e w ou ld a ct i n M al ei no s' i nt er es t. R ha va s h ad g ot a ll t he w ay b ac k t o h is

o wn r es id en ce b ef or e h e r an t hr ou gh H im er io s' w or ds i n h is m in d o nc e m or e. H e s to pp ed d ea d, h is h an d

o n t he l at ch , r eali zi ng H im er io s h ad i n f act s ai d n o s uch t hi ng .

" Tr im mer. A ccur sed t ri mm er ," R havas s ai d s co rn fu ll y. B ut h ow m an y o th er s w ou ld als o w ai t t o s ee

w hi ch w ay t he w in d w as b lo wi ng b ef or e s et ti ng t heir o wn s ai ls ?

* * *

P reachi ng h ad n ev er excit ed R havas. S tu dy in g t he s tr ug gl e b et ween t he g oo d g od and h is w icked r iv al

h ad alw ay s i nt er es ted h im m uch m or e t han t ry in g t o p ut t hat s tr ug gl e and w hat i t m eant acr os s f or l ay fo lk .

He'd never givenbad s er mo ns . N o o ne a s w el l o rg an iz ed a nd g en er al ly c ap ab le a s h e w as c ou ld d o t ha t.

B ut h e' d b ee n c om pe te nt , n ot i ns pi re d, a nd h e' d a lw ay s f el t t he l ac k.

N ow , s ud denl y, i ns pi rati on s tr uck. W hen h e s po ke t o S ko pent zana f ro m t he p ul pi t i n f av or o f M al ei no sa nd a ga in st S ty li an os , h e s po ke f ro m t he h ea rt , n ot f ro m t he h ea d. H e u se d t he s am e t he me w it h h is

con gr eg at io n as h e h ad w it h H im er io s and I ng eg er d, b ut w it h f resh and v iv id d et ai ls t hr ow n i n at every

sermon.

H e f ou nd h im se lf l oo ki ng o ut a t t he s ea o f f ac es i n S ko pe nt za na 's m ai n t em pl e a s i f t he y w er e s o m any

pagan Halogai and he was trying to convert them to the worship of the lord with the great and good

m in d. ( In r ea li ty , m an y p ri es ts h ad t ri ed t o c on ve rt H al og al an d. A l ot o f t he m e nd ed u p a s m ar ty rs t o t he ir

f ai th . M os t o f t he H al og ai r em ai ned s tu bb or nl y u ncon vert ed I ng eg er d m ar ked an excep ti on , n ot a r ul e. )

"W il l y ou d en y can y ou d en y th at t he u su rp er s eeks t o o vert hr ow t he n at ur al o rd er o f t hi ng s?"

R havas t hu nd er ed f ro m t he p ul pi t, s lamm in g d ow n h is f is t. " Can y ou d en y t hi s i s n ot hi ng b ut w ickedn es s?C an y ou d en y i t l ea ds o nl y t o t he i ce ?" H e s ta re d o ut c ha ll en gi ng ly a t t he w or sh ip er s.

Z au tz es w as t he re . S o w as H im er io s. I f I ng eg er d w as , R ha va s c ou ld n' t s ee h er ; w om en h ad a s ep ar at e

g al lery , u ps tair s f ro m t he m en o n t he g ro un d f lo or o f t he t em pl e, w hi ch l at ti cewo rk s cr eened o ff f ro m

prying eyes.

N ei th er t he e pa rc h n or t he g ar ri so n c om ma nd er p re su me d t o q ua rr el w it h R ha va s o r t o s ho ut o ut

S ty li an os ' n am e. N or d id a ny on e e ls e. M os t o f t he p eo pl e w ho c am e t o S ko pe nt za na 's m ai n t em pl e w er e

plump and prosperous and middle-aged; most of them would be just as well pleased to see things go on

a s t he y a lw ay s h ad .

S ko pe nt za na b oa st ed m or e t ha n o ne t em pl e, o f c ou rs e. S o d id a ny V id es si an c it y o f d ec en t s iz e. S pi re s

t op ped w it h g il ded s un -b al ls s pr an g u p f ro m r oo ft op s i n every n ei gh bo rh oo d. O th er p ri es ts , m en o f l ow er

rank in the ecclesiastical hierarchy, presided over them.

E very on e m us t s ay t he s am e t hi ng , R havas t ho ug ht . A ll o f t hem m us t t el l t heir con gr eg at io ns t hat

M al ei no s i s t he r igh tf ul A vt ok ra to r a nd S tyl ia no s o nl y a r eb el a nd a u su rp er . T hi s i s t he t ru th ; i t m us t b e

made plain.

T he p re la te 's f er vo r w or ke d i ts w ay i nt o t he u su al p ra ye rs a nd h ym ns , t oo . B ec au se o f i t, t he

con gr eg at io n r es po nd ed w it h m or e ent hu si as m t han t hey m os tl y s ho wed. F or o ne o f t he r ar e t im es i n h is

l if e, R ha va s f el t t he p ow er o f h is p re ac hi ng . T he re h ad b ee n t im es w he n h e t oo k l es s e nj oy me nt f ro m

wine.


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A ft er r ec it in g P hos ' c re ed f or t he l as t t im e, h e d is mi ss ed t he w or sh ip er s. T he y f il ed o ut o f t he t em pl e

buzzing among themselves. Rhavas couldn't remember the last time he'd heard that kind of excitement

a mo ng t he m. H e c ou ld n' t r em em be r i f h e e ve r h ad .

" Go od s er mo n, v er y h ol y s ir ," s ai d a m an w it h a r ob e f ul l o f o rn at e an d exp en si veemb ro id er y. " Yo u

really sounded like you meant it."

" I alw ay s m ean i t, " R havas s ai d. T hat any on e cou ld d ou bt h is s in ceri ty w ou nd ed h im t o t he h eart .

P la in ly , t he c on gr eg an t h ad n o i de a h e' d o ff en de d. " Ma yb e y ou d o, " h e s ai d, " bu t i t d oe sn 't a lw ay s h av e

t ha t ol d oo mph, i f you k now wha t I me an." T he no is e he ma de s ound ed a s i f he 'd j us t be en ki cke d in t he

belly. "You give it that old oomph"there it was again"and folks won't forget it."

" Oo mp h, " R havas ech oed i n h ol lo w t on es . T he m an n od ded. R havas f ou gh t t he i mp ul se t o p ou nd h is

h ea d a ga in st t he p ol is he d c ed ar o f t he p ul pi t. H e k ne w h ow l on g a nd h ar d h e l ab or ed o ve r h is s er mo ns .

H e m ig ht n ot h av e b een an i ns pi ri ng s peak er , b ut h is l og ic w as alw ay s clear and s tr ai gh tf or ward , h ist heol og y i mp eccabl y o rt ho do x. A nd n on e o f t hat h ad r eall y s tr uck h om e w it h h is aud ience? E vi dent ly n ot .

P as si on and v ig or cou nt ed f or m or e w it h t hem.

I c ou ld h av e p re ac he d f or S ty li an os i ns te ad , h e r ea li ze d. I c ou ld h av e c al le d d ow n a na th em as o n m y

c ou si n' s h ea d. I f I s ou nd ed e xc it ed w hi le I w as d oi ng i t, p eo pl e w ou ld h av e p ra is ed m e, t he s am e a s

they're praising me now.

H e w on de re d w hy h e' d s pe nt s o m an y y ea rs p or in g o ve r P ho s' s ac re d s cr ip tu re s a nd t he c om me nt ar ie s

g en er at io n u po n g en er at io n o f t heol og ians h ad w ri tt en abo ut t hem. W as t hat w hat m ad e a s uccess fu l

priest? Again, evidently not. He might have done better joining a troupe of actors and mountebanks. That

h e p os tu re d i n f ro nt o f a c ro wd s ee me d m or e i mp or ta nt t ha n w ha t h e p os tu re d a bo ut .

H al f a d oz en m or e p eo pl e p ra is ed h is p re ac hi ng a s t he y l ef t t he t em pl e. T he ir w or ds l ef t h im c ol de r b y

the moment.St yl ian os ? I c oul d hav e c al le d on t he m t o r ev er enc e S kot os ! An d i f I di d i t w it h p as si on

enough, they might obey . H e s hi ve re d. S ur el y t he l or d w it h t he g re at a nd g oo d m in d w ou ld n ev er l et

s uc h a t ra ve st y of j us ti ce c om e t o pa ss .

* * *

S oo th sa ye rs i n S ko pe nt za na w er e t hr ee f or a c op pe r, a s t he y w er e i n a ny o th er c it y i n t he E mp ir e o f

V id es so s. L ik e t he w it ch es and h ed ge w izar ds w ho s ol d f er ti li ty s pell s f or l iv es to ck and l ov e p hi lt res and

charm s s wo rn t o m ak e an enemy i tch i n emb ar rass in g p laces, m an y o f t hem mayb e even m os t o f t hem were f raud s. S om e, t ho ug h, s om e h ad a cer tain t al en t.

I n a ll t he y ea rs R ha va s h ad b ee n i n S ko pe nt za na , h e' d n ev er f el t t he n ee d t o c on su lt a s oo th sa ye r. H e

a nd t he e pa rc h h ad w or ke d t og et he r t o c at ch s om e o f t he wo rs t f ra ud s a nd s en d t he m ou t of t ow n w it h

s tr ip es o n t heir b acks . A m an cou ld n' t h an g aro un d t he edg es o f m ag ic, t ho ug h, w it ho ut l earn in g a l it tl e

s om et hi ng a bout wh o w as r el ia bl e a s we ll a s w ho w as not . A nd s o, wh en t he pr el at e de ci de d t o l ea rn

w ha t h e c ou ld o f t hi ng s t ha t l ay a he ad , h e d id n' t h es it at e. H e s um mo ne d a c er ta in E la da s.

T he s oo th sa ye r w as a m an a f ew y ea rs o ld er t ha n R ha va s cl os er t o f if ty t ha n f or ty . H is r ob e w as o f

g oo d w oo l, and clean . S o m an y s uch p eo pl e w er e d es perately p oo r, w hi ch o f i ts el f d is qu al if ied t hem i n

R ha va s' e ye s. I f t he y c ou ld n' t s ee t he f ut ur e w el l e no ug h t o d o t he ms el ve s a ny g oo d, h ow c ou ld t he y

h op e t o h el p a ny on e e ls e? E la da s p as se d t ha t t es t.


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H e p as sed ano th er i mm ed iately t hereaf ter. T he f ir st w or ds o ut o f h is m ou th aft er h e w as u sh er ed i nt o

R havas' s tu dy w er e, " Very h ol y s ir , p ro ph es yi ng abo ut t he i mp er ial s uccess io n i s a cap it al cri me. I d o n ot

break that law, nor would I ever. I tell you this only because there is civil war in the land. I do not ask

what you would as k of me." He did not say he di d not know.

" I w il l no t m ake y ou w or ry a bou t t he he ad sm an 's s wo rd . I w il l n ot m ak e m ys el f l ia bl e t o i t, e it he r, "

R havas ass ur ed h im . H e' d i nt en ded t o s ee w het her E ladaswould prophesy along those lines, but couldhardly blame the man for ruling it out straightaway.

E ladas p ol it el y i ncli ned h is h ead. " Yo u are g raci ou s. " H is f ace w as o rd in ar y eno ug h ex cept f or h is

e ye s. T he y w er e l ar ge a nd d ar k a nd h au nt ed. R ha va s c ou ld w el l b el ie ve t he y s aw t hi ng s m os t m en w ou ld

n eve r n ot ic e. E la da s s ip pe d t he w in e a j un io r p ri es t br ou ght h im . A ft er t ha t y oun g m an l ef t t he r oom , t he

s oo th sayer ask ed , " Wh at w ou ld y ou k no w, t hen?"

Rh av as s mi le d, n ot l ea st i n p ri de a t h is o wn c le ve rn es s. " I h op e t o l ea rn f ro m y ou w he th er I s ha ll b ec om e

ecumenical patriarch."

" I s ee ," E la da s s ai d. N o d ou bt h e d id , t oo . I f M al ei no s h el d t he t hr on e, h is c ou si n' s c ha nc es o f

promotion were excellent. If Stylianos overthrew the present Avtokrator, Rhavas would be lucky to stay

w here h e w as . B ut i nq ui ri ng abo ut t he p at ri ar ch al s uccess io n w as n' t again st t he l aw . E ladas s ip ped f ro m

t he w in ecup again . T hen h e s et i t d ow n and s po ke i n b ri sk , b us in es sl ik e t on es : " Gi ve m e y ou r h an d. "

" Ce rt ai nl y. " R ha va s h el d i t o ut . E la da s t oo k i t b et we en h is o wn h an ds . T he y w er e w ar m a nd f ir m a nd

d ry : n o c la mm y t ou ch h er e, a s s oo th sa ye rs w er e o ft en s ai d t o h av e.

No no ns en se he re , e it he r. R ha va s a ls o l ike d t ha t; he w as a nd a lw ay s h ad be en a m an w it h no u se f or

n on sens e. E ladas chant ed n o m ys ti c and p ro babl y s en seles s charm s. H e j us t s tu di ed R havas' h an d as

i nt en tl y as t he p relate m ig ht s tu dy a p as sage i n t he s cr ip tu res.

S lo wl y, h e n od de d t o h im se lf . S lo wl y, h e l oo ke d u p f ro m R ha va s' h an d t o h is f ac e. H e n od de d a ga in ,

t hi s t im e t o h is cli en t.

"Y ou w il l " h e b eg an , and t hen s ai d n o m or e. H is g ri p s ud denl y t ig ht en ed o n R havas' h an d, t ig ht en ed

w it h a go ni zi ng f or ce . H is e ye s, t ho se e ye s t ha t s aw s o m uc h, o pe ne d w id er t ha n a m an 's e ye s h ad a ny

business doing. What was in them? Astonishment? Fear? Fear, Rhavas thought, for that crushing grip all

a t o nc e w en t i cy c ol d. E la da s t ook o ne h an d a wa y f or a mo me nt t o po int a t t he p re la te . Ac cus at ion?

T ri um ph ? A gain , R havas cou ld n' t b e s ur e. T he s oo th sayer' s m ou th w or ked, b ut n o s ou nd came f or th .

A nd t he n t hos e s ta ri ng e ye s r ol le d up i n El ada s' he ad . The ma n l et o ut a l as t ga sp a nd s lum pe d ove r. At

f ir st , R havas t ho ug ht h e h ad f ai nt ed . T hen, w it h a t wi ng e o f h or ro r, h e r eali zed E ladas w as n' t b reat hi ng .

Now he was the one who seized the soothsayer's wrist. He probed for the point where the pulse

pounded most powerfully.

H e f el t . . . no th in g, n ot hi ng a t a ll . H e s ho ut ed h oa rs el y f or t he y ou ng pr ie st w ho 'd l et E la da s i n:

"Matzoukes! Come quickly!"

A w et s ta in a t t he c rot ch s ai d El ada s' b la dde r h ad l et go . A s te nc h s ai d h is bo we ls ha d do ne l ike wi se .

M at zo uk es h ur ri ed i nt o t he s tu dy . H e t oo k i n t he s ce ne a t a g la nc e. " Ph os !" h e e xc la im ed . O f i ts el f, h is

h an d m ov ed i n t he s un -cir cl e. " Wh at h ap pened h er e, v er y h ol y s ir ?"

" He 's d ea d, " R ha va s s ai d d ul ly . " De ad ." O f t ha t t he re c ou ld b e n o p os si bl e d ou bt . " I a sk ed h im a


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ques ti on, a nd he began t o answe r it, but he ha d a . . . a s eiz ur e, I suppos e you would sa y. He fel l over ,

and the rest . . . the rest is as you see."

" Wh at d id y ou ask h im ?" M at zo uk es i nq ui red.

R ha va s w it he re d t he y ou ng st er w it h a g la nc e. M at zo uk es t ur ne d v er y r ed a nd b ow ed h is h ea d i n s ha me

and d is co mf it ur e. R havas g rew b us in es sl ik e: " Help m e g et t he b od y o ut o f h er e. D id h e h av e f am il y? It hink he did. We 'l l have t o l et t hem know. And we wil l have t o ma ke sur e tha t t he c ha ri ty of t hi s te mpl e

d oe s n ot l ea ve t he m w an ti ng . T hi s w as no t o ur f aul t" h e s ai d t ha t a s m uc h t o r ea ss ur e h im se lf a s

M at zo uk es and t he d ead E ladas, w ho se eyes s ti ll s eemed f il led w it h b li nd r ep ro ach "b ut w e s hall m ak e

w hat amend s w e can ."

" Y- yes, v er y h ol y s ir ," M at zo uk es q uavered. B ut h e w as s tead y eno ug h as h e and R havas m an hand led

E la da s' c or ps e o ut o f t he s tu dy . A ft er wa rd , p an ti ng a l it tl e o ut i n t he h al lw ay , h e s ai d, " I d o a po lo gi ze f or

s no op in g. I m ea nt n o h ar m b y i t, a nd I c er ta in ly d id n' t m ea n t ha t y ou r q ue st io n, w ha te ve r i t w as , c ou ld

h av e h ad a ny th in g t o d o w it h . . . t hi s. " H e s ke tc he d t he s un -s ig n a ga in .

M at ch in g t he g es tu re , R ha va s s ai d, " Do n' t f re t, m y s on . I t oo k n o o ff en se ." T ha t w as a l ie , b ut a l ie

k in dl y m eant . M at zo uk es l et o ut an aud ib le s ig h o f r el ief. R havas s tared d ow n at E ladas. T hey h ad n' t

c lo se d t he s oo th sa ye r' s e ye s, s o h e s ti ll s ee me d t o s ta re b ac k. R ha va s w is he d h e c ou ld b el ie ve t he m an

h ad s uf fe re d a n u nf or tu na te a po pl ex y o r s om et hi ng o f t he s or t. H e w is he d h e c ou ld , b ut h e h ad n o

l uck no l uck at all .

As f ar a s he c ou ld t el l, E la da s ha d he ar d h is qu es ti on , l ooke d f or t he a ns we r, f ou nd i t . . . a nd di ed o f

t er ro r w he n h e r ea li ze d w ha t i t w as . R ha va s s ti ll d id n' t k no w t he a ns we r. T he p re la te o nl y w is he d h e

h ad n' t as ked t he q ues ti on .

* * *

E ver y t i me a cou ri er came u p t o Z au tzes' r esi dence, R havas s t ar ed acro ss S ko pent zan a' s cent r al s qu ar e,

w on de ri ng w ha t n ew s t he m an h ad i n h is h ea d o r i n t he w ax ed -l ea th er d is pa tc h t ub e h e c ar ri ed o n h is

belt. And every time a trader came up from the south and set up a display of pottery or bronze vessels or

perfume or spices in one of the city markets, Rhavas wondered what gossip he passed on to the traders

and townsfolk.

W ou ld S ty li an os t ry t o encou rage r eb el li on h er e? B ef or e l on g, R havas r eali zed t hat w as t he w ro ng

q uest io n. T he r ig ht q uest io n w as , w hy w ou ld n' t S ty li an os ? W hat d id h e h av e t o l os e? N ot hi ng . W hat d id

h e h av e t o g ai n? T he cro wn i n o th er w or ds , every th in g.

R um or s ai d M al ei no s h ad w on a b at tl e, s om ew he re d ow n i n t he s ou th . T he n a d if fe re nt r um or s we pt

through Skopentzana, this one claiming that Stylianos had beaten the Avtokrator and sent him scurrying

back to Videssos the city. Rhavas had no idea what to believe. Not believing anything seemed easiest.

H e g at he re d t he p ri es ts i n S ko pe nt za na t og et he r a nd s po ke t o t he m a bo ut t he n ee d t o k ee p M al ei no s o n

t he t hr on e. O ne o f t hem s ai d, " St yl iano s w il l m ak e y ou s or ry i f h e w in s. "

" No ." R ha va s s ho ok h is h ea d. " If t he r eb el d ef ea ts t he r ig ht fu l A vt ok ra to r, I w il l a lr ea dy b e s or ry , s o h e

will not be able to make me so."

H e w as n' t t he o nl y V id es si an t o r ev el i n q ui bb li ng f or i ts o wn s ak e. T he p ri es t l oo ke d h im i n t he e ye a nd

s ai d, " In t ha t c as e, v er y h ol y s ir , h e w il l m ak e yo u s or ri er ."


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" Yo u a re a w or th y g ra mm ar ia n, " R ha va s s ai d s ou rl y. " It i s p os si bl e t ha t h e m ay m ak e m e s or ri er . I f t he

goo d g od i s ki nd, how eve r, w ha t i s po ss ibl e wi ll not c ome t o pa ss . A nd t ha t i s w hy I ha ve a ske d a ll o f

y ou h er e t o t he t em pl e t od ay : t o u rg e y ou t o d o e ve ry th in g y ou c an t o k ee p t he u su rp er f ro m s te al in g t he

throne."

N on e o f t he p ri es ts s ai d h e f av or ed S ty li an os . R ha va s w ou ld h av e b ee n s ur pr is ed i f a ny m an h ad ,

esp eciall y w it h s o l it tl e r el iabl e n ew s com in g o ut o f t he s ou th . B ut M al ei no s' s up po rt als o s eemedlukewarm.Fence-sitters , R havas t ho ug ht u nh ap pi ly . T he l es ser p ri es ts w ou ld s ee w ho w as w in ni ng , and

cho os e b as ed o n t hat. R havas k new n ot hi ng b ut con temp t f or s uch t ri mm in g. H e w ou ld h av e p referr ed a

m an w ho d ar ed t o a dm it h e b ac ke d t he r eb el . A t l ea st s uc h a m an w ou ld s ho w h im se lf p ri nc ip le d, a nd s o

w or th y o f r es pe ct . H is p ri nc ip le s m ig ht b e m is gu id ed , b ut t he y w ou ld b e r ea l. T he e xp ed ie nt s ou ls . . .

A ft er t he y l ef t t he t em pl e, R ha va s m ad e a n ot e t o h im se lf t o s en d m en h e t ru st ed t o t he o th er t em pl es i n

t he t ow n. H eari ng w hat t he p ri es ts h ad t o s ay f ro m t he p ul pi t w hen t hey t ho ug ht h e w as n' t l is teni ng m ig ht

prove worthwhile. They might pledge loyalty under his eye and go back on it as soon as they were out of

e ar sh ot . W it h m en w ho c ar ed m or e a bo ut w ho w as w in ni ng a nd w ho l os in g t ha n a bo ut w ho r ig ht a nd

w ho w ro ng , s uc h t hi ng s w er e t o b e e xp ec te d.

A f ew d ay s aft er h is m eeti ng w it h h is f el lo w p ri es ts , H im er io s cal led o n h im . B ow in g, t he g ar ri so n

com mand er s ai d, " Well , y ou w on 't h av e t o w or ry abo ut m y l oy al ty any mo re, v er y h ol y s ir ."

" No ?" R havas ask ed cau ti ou sl y, n ot s ur e w hat t he o ff icer m eant .

" No ." H im er io s' v oi ce w as g ra ve . " Hi s M aj es ty h as s um mo ne d t he g ar ri so n h er e d ow n t o t he s ou th , t o

join his other forces in the fight against Stylianos."

" Ah ?" R ha va s s ai d: a s n eu tr al a s ou nd a s h e c oul d m ak e. " An d y ou a re o be yi ng h is M aj es ty ?"

" I am, " H im er io s r ep li ed . " In gegerd w il l s tay b eh in d. A civ il w ar 's n ot hi ng t o t ak e a w om an i nt o, and

S kop en tz ana 's f ar e nou gh ou t o f t he w ay t ha t t he f igh ti ng 's u nl ik el y t o g et h er e. I f . . . i f t hi ng s go w ron g,

v er y h ol y s ir , I 'd c ou nt i t a k in dn es s i f y ou s ee t ha t s he d oe sn 't s uf fe r o n a cc ou nt o f m y c ho ic e an d i f

y ou 'd l oo k o ut f or h er g en er al ly ."

Rhavas bowed to him. "What I can do, I will. How muc h that may be, I do not know. If things go

wr ong, the y a re li ke ly t o go wr ong f or me a s we ll a s f or you. I n t ha t c as e, I doubt I wi ll ha ve muc h

i nf lu en ce o n e ve nt s. Y ou m ig ht d o w el l t o a sk s om e o th er p ri es t b es id es m e. "

H im er io s s ho ok h is h ea d. " Yo u' re a n h on es t m an . P ri es ts a re m en l ik e a ny o th er s. S om e o f t he m,me ani ng no o ff ens e t o yo u, I wo ul dn' t t rus t t o ke ep a n e ye on a s ac k of ma nur e, l et a lone a wom an."

T ha t c am e t oo c lo se f or c om fo rt t o R ha va s' o wn t ho ug ht s a bo ut h is f el lo w c le ri cs . H e s ai d, " Yo u d o m e

honor by not including me in their number."

" Yo u ann oy p eo pl e f or d if ferent r easo ns ," H im er io s s ai d. " Yo u cli ng s tr on gl y t o w hat y ou b el ieve. I d on 't

m ean t o o ff en d y ou w hen I s ay t hat y ou cli ng s tr on gl y even w here ano th er m an w ou ld t hi nk o f chang in g

h is v iews . T hat can 't h el p b ut u ps et t ho se w ho h ol d t heir o pi ni on s l es s f ir ml y. "

Yo u' r e a s tu bb or n c r an k w as w ha t h e m ea nt . N o m at te r h ow s mo ot hl y h e p hr as ed i t, t ha t w ou ld h av e

o ff en de d m an y m en . N ot R ha va s. T he p re la te b ow ed o nc e m or e. " Go od i s g oo d a nd e vi l i s e vi l, " h e s ai d.

"I wi ll c li ng to the st ronger one wit h a ll my might , a nd do tha t whi ch I se e a s good i n the s ight of Phos. All

m en and all w om en s ho ul d d o t he s am e. I f t hey d o l es s, t hey p ut t hems el ves i n p er il o f m eeti ng t he


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e te rn al i ce w he n t he ir d ay s o n e ar th a re d on e. "

" I t hi nk we a ll t ry t o do r ight a s we s ee i t," Hi me ri os s aid. "N ot e ve ryone s ee s i t t he s ame w ay, t hough."

" Th er e i s o nl y on e r ig ht p at h, " R ha va s s ai d s tu bbo rnl y. " It a lw ay s l ie s a he ad o f u s. W e m us t f ind i t a nd

t ra ve l i t, f or i n t he e nd i t l ea ds o ve r t he B ri dg e o f t he S ep ar at or a nd i nt o P ho s' e te rn al l ig ht . C ho os e t he

w ro ng p at h, and y ou w il l n ev er cro ss t he b ri dg e. Y ou w il l f al l d ow n i nt o d am nati on i ns tead ."

F or a m om en t, H im er io s l oo ked f ri gh tened. R havas w as a m or e eff ecti ve s peak er t al ki ng t o o ne m an

than he was from the pulpit. The garrison commander visibly gathered himself. "You're not talking about

m e i n p ar ti cu la r, e h, v er y h ol y s ir ? Y ou m ea nany m an w ho f al ls o ff t he s tr ai gh t p at h. "

" Yes, o f cou rs e, " R havas s ai d i mp at ient ly , n ot s eein g t hat i t h ad b een any th in g b uto f c ou rs e to Himerios.

" Do t ha t whi ch i s r ight , a nd t he goo d god wi ll r ewa rd you. Do ot he rw is e, a nd Skot os w il l s ee t o it t ha t

y ou p ay t he p ri ce ." H e s pa t i n r ej ec ti on o f P ho s' d ar k r iv al .

S o d id H im er io s. T he V id es si an s ol di er s ai d, " I h op e t o c om e h om e t o S ko pe nt za na s oo n. I f I d o, t ha tw il l m ean t he A vt ok rato r M al ei no s h as w on and t he r eb el li on i s o ver. "

" If y ou d o, i t w il l m ea n P ho s h as t ri um ph ed a nd S ko to s i s d ef ea te d, " R ha va s s ai d. " Ma y t he b le ss in gs o f

t he l or d w it h t he gr ea t a nd g oo d m in d go w it h y ou. "

" Th an ks . T hat m eans a l ot t o m e. " H im er io s t ur ned t o l eave. " An d i f b y s om e m is ch an ce t hi ng s s ho ul d g o

w ro ng , p le as e . . . r em em be r I ng eg er d. "

" Wh at I c an d o, I w il l, " R ha va s s ai d a ga in . " As I t ol d y ou, t ho ugh , i f t hi ng s g o w ro ng , s he w oul d b e

better off with some other protector than me."

T hr ee d ay s l at er , h e w at ch ed t he g ar ri so n c om ma nd er r id e o ut o f S ko pe nt za na t hr ou gh t he s ou th g at e a t

t he h ea d o f h is m en . V id es so s' b an ne r, a g ol d s un bu rs t o n b lu e, f lu tt er ed o ve r t he s ol di er s. R ha va s

w on de re d h ow m uc h g oo d t ha t b an ne r w oul d d o d ur in g a c iv il w ar . B ot h s id es w ou ld f ly i t t he n, a nd

n ei th er w oul d b e a bl e t o u se i t t o t el l f ri en d f ro m f oe .

T he s ol di er s s et ti ng f or th f ro m S ko pent zana d id n' t s eem w or ri ed abo ut w ho t heir f oes w ou ld b e. T he

f oo t s ol di er s t ramp ed alo ng w it h s ho ul dered p ik es . T hey h ad s wo rd s o n t heir h ip s t o p ro tect t hems el ves

i n c as e t he ir m ai n w ea po ns b ro ke . S om e o f t he c av al ry w er e l an ce rs , o th er s a rc he rs . F oo t s ol di er s a nd

horsemen alike waved to friendsusually pretty friendsthey were leaving behind. Ingegerd stood not

f ar f ro m R ha va s, h er f ai r h ai r s hi ni ng i n t he s un . H er f ac e s ta ye d s te rn a s a w ar ri or 's t il l H im er io s r od epast. Then warmth flooded into it. She blew him a kiss. He took off his helmet and bowed in the saddle.

It ma de a pret ty pic ture . . . until Rhavas saw the t ea rs on her c he eks.

Z au tz es w as a ls o t he re t o w at ch t he g ar ri so n d ep ar t. T he e pa rc h l oo ke d l ik e a v er y u nh ap py f ro g.

C at ch in g R ha va s' e ye , h e b ec ko ne d h im o ve r. T he p re la te e lb ow ed h is w ay t hr ou gh t he c ro wd .

" Wh at d o w e d o n ow , v er y h ol y s ir , i f t he H al og ai s wo op d ow n o n u s? " t he e pa rc h i nq ui re d.

" We ll , m os t h on or ab le s ir , I p re su me w e d o t he b es t w e c an ," R ha va s r ep li ed .

" Fa ug h! " Z au tz es s ai d, a nd R ha va s h ad n ev er h ea rd a m or e d is gu st ed n oi se . Z au tz es w en t o n, " I c an

r ai se u p a cit y m il it ia, and I s up po se I w il l, b ut ask in g m il it iamen t o f ig ht w it ho ut s ol di er s t o s ti ff en t hem i s

l ik e t ak in g a b un ch o f r op em ak er s, g iv in g t he m a d ea d s he ep , a nd e xp ec ti ng t he m t o c oo k a t as ty s up pe r.


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Y ou k no w w hat t he H al og ai are l ik e. "

R ha va s l oo ke d o ve r t ow ar d w he re h e' d l as t s ee n I ng eg er d, b ut h e c ou ld n' t s po t h er n ow ; s he m us t h av e

g on e h om e aft er h er h us band r od e o ut o f S ko pent zana. O nl y aft er t hat h al f- in vo lu nt ar y g lance d id t he

prelate nod. The northern raiders were indeed very ferocious and very dangerous.

" We j us t h av e t o h op e t he y h ol d of f t il l w e s or t t hr ou gh o ur o wn t ro ubl es ," h e s ai d. " If S ty li an os h ads ta ye d l oy al , w e w ou ld n' t n ee d t o w or ry a bo ut a ny o f t hi s. T he l or d w it h t he g re at a nd g oo d m in d w il l

remember his treason."

" It 's o nl y t reas on i f h e l os es ," Z au tzes s ai d. N ot f or t he f ir st t im e, h e w as d ev as tati ng ly cyn ical . R havas

s ta rt ed t o g iv e b ac k a n i ra te r ep ly , b ut b ef or e h e c ou ld l oo se i t Z au tz es c on ti nu ed , " If P ha os d id n' t w an t

h im t o w in , h e' d l os e, r ig ht ?"

T ha t t oo k t hi ng s o ut of t he r ea lm of p ol it ic s a nd i nt o t he r ea lm of t he ol og y. R ha va s' a ng er f ad ed ; n ow h e

h ad t he c ha nc e t o t ea ch . " It 's n ot s o s im pl e, m os t h on or ab le s ir . W e a ll b el ie ve P hos w il l f in al ly p ro ve

s tr on ge r t ha n S ko to s, a nd w il l p re va il a t t he e nd o f d ay s. L ig ht w il l d ri ve o ut d ar kn es s. " H e s ke tc he d t hes un- si gn . So d id Z aut ze s. Rh ava s pl owe d a he ad: " But Sk ot os i s a ls o a go d, a nd t he e nd o f da ys i s no t

yet. Wickedness may triumphfor a while."

Z aut zes s tayed cyn ical , s ay in g, " Yo u d o r eali ze, v er y h ol y s ir , t hat p ri es ts l oy al t o S ty li an os w il l s ay i t' s

h is M aj es ty w ho 's S ko to s' t oo l?I do not s ay t hi s, mi nd you, f or I am l oya l t o M ale inos , but i t' s a n

a rg um en t w it h t wo e dg es , a nd i t c an c ut b ot h w ay s. "

" The y m ay s ay i t, y es , b ut t he y w il l b e m is ta ke n. " R ha va s s po ke w it h g re at c on vi ct io n. D ou bt w as n o

part of his makeup; once he formed an opinion, he clung to it through thick and thin. "The Avtokrator is

Ph os ' vi ce ge re nt on e ar th, a s I ha ve s ai d b ef or e. To r ebe l a ga ins t hi m i s t o r ebe l a ga ins t t he goo d god

himself."

" Yo u a re s ur el y r igh t. " B y t he w ay Z au tz es s ai d i t, h e w as n' t s ur e o f a ny thi ng of t he s or t. " Hi s M aj es ty i s

a good and wort hy rul er , a nd is bound to do Pha os' work, as you sa y. But wha t of t he rule rs who ar e

w ic ke d t yr an ts ? T he E mp ir e o f V id es so s h as k no wn a f ew ."

" As I s ay , S ko to s c an h av e h is m om en ta ry t ri um ph s. " R ha va s s pa t o n t he c ob bl es to ne s i n r ej ec ti on o f t he

d ar k g od . A s Z au tz es h ad w it h t he s un -c ir cl e, h e m ad e h as te t o f ol lo w s ui t h er e. R ha va s c on ti nu ed , " Yo u

w il l n ot ice, m os t h on or ab le s ir , t hat w icked t yr an ts s el do m r ul e f or l on g. A b et ter r ul er com mo nl y t ak es

t heir p laceP ho s g ai ns t he adv an tage i n t he s tr ug gl e again st d ar kn es s and evi l. "

Th e e pa rc h n od de d. H is j ow ls w obb le d wh en h e d id . " Ma y i t b e s o he re ," h e s ai d, a nd t ur ne d a wa y.

" Ye s. M ay i t b e s o." R ha va s w as o n t he w ay ba ck t o t he pr el at e' s r es ide nc e be fo re h e r ea li ze d Za ut ze s

h ad n' t s ai d t ha t M al ei no s' t ri um ph a nd t he g oo d g od 's w er e o ne a nd t he s am e. B ut Z au tz es h ad s ai d

e ar li er t ha t h e w as l oy al t o t he r ei gn in g A vt ok ra to r. H e' d d on e n ot hi ng t o m ak e R ha va s d is be li ev e h im . . .

yet.

A nd t he c los er I w at ch hi m, t he s ma ll er t he c ha nc e he h as t o g et a wa y w it h a ny th in g l ik e t ha t, t he p re la te

thought.

* * *

W ai ti ng f or wo rd w as n' t e as y. I t ne ve r w as . Rh av as t ri ed t o k ee p d oi ng w ha t h e di d e ve ry da y, b ut

r ou ti ne h ad n o f lavo r f or h im . H e m ig ht h av e b een m ir ed i n m ud . S ko pent zana, m eanw hi le, h ur ri ed


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t ow ar d h ig h s um me r l ik e a l ov er r un ni ng t o m ee t h is b el ov ed . D ay s s tr et ch ed a nd s tr et ch ed . T he s un r os e

ear ly i n t he f ar n or th east and s et l at e i n t he f ar s ou th west . D ur in g t he b ri ef n ig ht s, f ul l d ar kn es s h ar dl y

c am e. T he re w as a lwa ys a hi nt of t wi li gh t i n t he no rt h.

P eo pl e s ai d t ha t i n t he H al og a c ou nt ry , f ar th er n or th s ti ll , t he t wi li gh t w as e ve n br ig ht er , s o t ha t a m an

c ou ld r ea d a b oo k a t m id ni gh t no t t ha t m an y H al og ai c ou ld r ea d a t a ny h ou r o f t he d ay o r n ig ht . P eo pl e

e ve n s ai d t ha t i n t he f ar no rt h of Ha lo ga la nd t he s un ne ve r s et a t a ll d ur ing hi gh s um me r, b ut s ki mm ed l owabo ve t he n or th er n h or izon and t hen b eg an t o cli mb again .

R ha va s d id n' t k no w w he th er t o b el ie ve t ha t. F or o ne t hi ng , i t s ee me d u nn at ur al . B ut i f t he s un s ta ye d i n

t he s um mer s ky l on ger i n S ko pent zana t han i n V id es so s t he cit y wh ich i t s ur el y d id w hy s ho ul dn 't i t

s tay t here all d ay i f o ne t raveled f ar th er n or th s ti ll ?

W hy ? T he p relate's chi ef o bj ecti on w as n' t n at ur al b ut t heol og ical . A s l on g as t he s un l in gered h er e i n

s um me r, i t b ar el y d ar ed s ho w i ts f ac e c om e w in te rt im e. O n M id wi nt er 's D ay , t he d ay o f t he s ol st ic e ( an d

a g re at f es ti va l a ll o ve r t he E mp ir e) , i t p ok ed i ts n os e u p o ve r t he h or iz on , s cu tt le d a cr os s t he

s ou th er nm os t s ky , a nd t he n s an k a ga in . T he p ra ye rs t ha t w en t u p h er ea bo ut s t o s av e t he s un f ro m S ko to swere uncommonly sincere.

B ut s up po se t he s un n ev er r os e a t a ll o n M id wi nt er 's D ay . S up po se a ll r em ai ne d i n d ar kn es s. W ou ld n' t

t ha t gi ve Skot os unt ra mm el ed s wa y ove r t he w or ld t il l i t r et ur ne d t o t he s ky onc e m or e . . . i f i t e ve r d id?

S o R havas f eared. F or t hat r easo n, h e f ou gh t s hy o f b el ievi ng i n eit her everl as ti ng s um mer d ay li gh t o r

unending winter night.

C ou ri er s c am e t o Z au tz es a nd r od e o ut o f S ko pe nt za na a ga in . S om et im es t he e pa rc h w ou ld t el l R ha va s

w hat t hey s ai d, s om et im es h e w ou ld n' t. H is s il en ces m ad e R havas f um e, b ut t he p relate k new h e cou ld n' t

d o m uch m or e t han f um e. A nt ag on izin g t he m os t p ow er fu l civ il aut ho ri ty i n t he cit y s tr uck h im as a b ad

i dea. I f Z au tzes d eclared f or S ty li an os and b ro ug ht S ko pent zana w it h h im , t hat w ou ld b e a h eavy b lo wagainst Maleinos.

O ne o f t he w ay s S ko pe nt za na d if fe re d f ro m V id es so s t he c it y w as t ha t s um me r r ai n w as c om mo n h er e

r at he r t ha n b ei ng a p he no me no n t al ke d a bo ut f or y ea rs a ft er i t h ap pe ne d. O ne o f Z au tz es ' s ec re ta ri es

s qu el ch ed a cr os s t he s qu ar e o n a d ri zz ly , d ri pp y d ay t o s um mo n R ha va s t o t he e pa rc h' s r es id en ce .

" Di d h e s ay w ha t t hi s w as a bo ut ?" R ha va s a sk ed e ag er ly .

" No , v er y h ol y s ir ," t he s ec re ta ry a ns we re d. " He j us t t ol d m e t o b ri ng y ou b ac k. " P la in ly , h e c ou ld n' t

h av e c ar ed l es s w ha t t he n ew s w as . A nd w hy s ho ul d h e? E xc ep t f or t he s ak e o f g os si p, w ha t d if fe re nc ed id i t m ak e t o h im w ho r ul ed t he E mp ir e?

A h oo ded cap e o ver h is r ob es , R havas f ol lo wed Z au tzes ' m an t hr ou gh t he s qu ar e. T he s tatu es s tand in g

t he re s ee me d s of te ne d b y t he m is t a nd r ai n. E ve n s te rn S ta vr ak io s t ur ne d w ha t f el t l ik e a b en ig n e ye o n

t he p re la te a s h e p as se d.

Z au tz es b ow ed t o h im a t t he d oo rw ay . " Ve ry h ol y s ir ," t he e pa rc h m ur mu re d.

" Mo st h on or ab le s ir ," R ha va s r ep li ed p ol it el y. H e t ri ed t o k ee p h is t on e l ig ht a s h e a sk ed , " Yo u h av e

news?"

" I h av e ne ws ," Z aut ze s a gr ee d. " Wi ll y ou c om e i nt o m y of fi ce a nd t ake s om e w in e w it h m e b ef or e y ou

hear it?"


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" By y ou r l ea ve , m os t h on or ab le s ir , I w ou ld r at he r n ot . T el l m e h er e a nd n ow a nd g et i t o ve r w it h. " C ap e

d ri pp in g o n t he m os ai c f lo or , R ha va s s to od t he re l ik e a m an b ra ce d f or s ur ge ry w it ho ut e ve n t he s ma ll

balm of henbane and poppy juice.

B ut t he eparch s ur pr is ed h im b y g iv in g h im a l ar ge, f ro gg y s mi le. R havas m ig ht h av e b een a p ar ti cu larl y

d el icio us b lu eb ot tl e b uzzi ng aro un d t he l il y p ad . " Th e n ew s i s g oo d, t ho ug h, v er y h ol y s ir ," Z au tzes s ai d.

" Go od ?" R ha va s s po ke t he w or d w it h s us pi ci on , a s i f i t w er e n ot o ne c om mo nl y a pp li ed t o n ew s.

" Go od ," Z au tz es r ep ea te d. " Hi s M aj es ty h as d ef ea te d t he r eb el n ea r D ev el to s, n ot t oo f ar f ro m V id es so s

t he cit y, and s en t h im o ff i n h eadl on g r et reat ."

T o R ha va s, b or n a nd r ai se d i n t he c ap it al , D ev el to s s ee me d s om e d is ta nc e o ff t o t he e as t, b ut

perspective counted for a good deal. Seen from Skopentzana, Videssos the city and the provincial town

w er en 't t ha t f ar a pa rt . A nd t he n ew s . . . ! T he pr el at e b owe d. " I t ha nk yo u, m os t ho nor ab le s ir . Y ou a re

r ig ht , o f c ou rs e. T ha t i s t he b es t o f n ew s. "

Z au tz es ' j ow ls w ob bl ed w he n h e s ho ok h is h ea d. " No t q ui te t he b es t, I 'd s ay . T he b es t w ou ld h av e

S ty li an os d ea d o n t he f ie ld a nd h is u pr is in g d ea d w it h h im . N ot q ui te t he b es t, n o, b ut g oo d. A nd n ow ,

h av in g h eard t he n ew s, w il l y ou d ri nk w in e w it h m e t o cel eb rate i t?"

"I will, and gladly," Rhavas answered.

H e s eemed t o f in d a s peci al b eaut y i n t he s im pl e cer em on y accom pany in g t he w in e t hat Z au tzes ' s er vant

poured for them. Even spitting in rejection of Skotos took on a new meaning, a new truth. The change

w as n' t i n t he r it ua l o r e ve n i n t he w in e, t ho ug h t ha t w as v er y g oo d. R ha va s n ee de d a l it tl e w hi le t o r ea li ze

i t, b ut t he chang e w as i n h im self h e w as all b ut g id dy w it h r el ief.

" Te ll m e m or e, " h e ke pt s ay in g t o Z aut ze s. " By t he g ood g od , t el l m e m or e. D ri ve n of f i n h ea dl on g

retreat? Retreat in which direction?"

" Aw ay f ro m t he cap it al , o bv io us ly ," Z au tzes r ep eated. R havas o nl y s no rt ed ; t hat w as t oo o bv io us even

t o n ee d s ay in g. T he e pa rc h w en t o n, " I' ve t ol d y ou e ve ry th in g t he d is pa tc h t ol d m e. P as t t ha t, I w ou ld

only be guessing."

" Gu es s, b y all m eans ," R havas s ai d exp an si vely . Z au tzes ' eyebr ow s r os e and h is b ul gi ng eyes w id en ed

s li gh tl y. T he p relate h ar dl y ever o ff er ed i nv it at io ns l ik e t hat. R havas d id n' t car e w hat h e u su al ly d id .T od ay h e w ou ld f ea st o ff t he s pu n s ug ar o f s pe cu la ti on i f h e c ou ld n' t b it e d ow n o n t he m ea t o f f ac t.

"As long as you know Iam g uess in g, " Z au tzes s ai d, and R havas g av e h im an i mp at ient n od . S cr ew in g u p

h is f ace i n t ho ug ht , Z au tzes con ti nu ed , " Af ter a d ef eat l ik e t hi s, n ot m an y t ow ns w il l w an t t o o pen t heir

g at es t o S ty li an os . H e' d h av e t o f le e f or t he f ro nt ie r, u nl es s I m is s m y g ue ss . M ay be t he s ol di er s w ho

g uard again st t he K hamo rt h n om ad s w il l k eep t heir aff ecti on f or h im . I t' s a s li m h op e, b ut p ro babl y t he

best one he has."

" Wh at abo ut t he b ar bari ans t hems el ves?" R havas ask ed .

" Wh at abo ut ' em ?" t he eparch r et ur ned. " If t he f ro nt ier t ro op s s tay l oy al t o M al ei no s, t hey' ll k eep t he

n om ad s o ut . A nd t hey' ll p ro babl y k eep t hem o ut even i f t hey d on 't . W hy w ou ld n' t t hey? S ty li an os w on 't

w an t any th in g l ik e p an deri ng t o t he s av ag es o n h is r ecor d. "


21/267

" Ye s, t ha t' s s o. I f h e w in s, h e w ou ld n' t w an t t o w in w it h b ar ba ri an b ac ki ng . A nd i f h e l os es , h e o nl y

makes his rebellion worse by inciting the Khamorth."

R ha va s r em em be re d t ha t c on ve rs at io n f or a l on g t im e. E ve ry w or d h e s ai d m ad e g oo d l og ic al s en se . H e

alm os t alw ay s d id . B ut w hat h e r ecko ned l og ical and w hat S ty li an os and M al ei no s w ou ld r ecko n l og ical

we re n ot p re ci se ly t he s ame . J us t how f ar f rom t he s ame t he y w er e wou ld c ome ou t i n s ho rt o rde r. * * *

B ei ng t he m an h e w as , R ha va s d id s om et im es w is h t ha t S ko pe nt za na b oa st ed m or e i n t he w ay o f b oo ks .

T he n or th er n c it y h ad m or e t ha n h e' d e xp ec te d w he n h e c am e h er e, b ut n ot e no ug h t o s at is fy h im . O f

cou rs e, even V id es so s t he cit y h ad n' t h ad eno ug h t o s at is fy h im . H e s om et im es t ho ug ht all t he b oo ks ever

written wouldn't be enough to satisfy him.

On e wa y t o s ol ve t ha t pr obl em wa s t o wr it e a bo ok of h is ow n. I f h e s et o ut t he p re ci se r el at io ns hi p

between Phos and Skotos and supported it with quotations from the sacred scriptures and from earlier

t he ol og ia ns , n o o ne e ls e w ou ld n ee d t o t ac kl e t he j ob f or y ea rs . O th er s h ad a tt em pt ed i t b ef or e h im ; i tw as , a ft er a ll , o ne o f t he f un da me nt al i ss ue s f ac in g t he f ai th . B ut n on e o f t hos e l ea rn ed t om es w as l ea rn ed

e nou gh t o s at is fy hi m. H e w an te d h is w or k t o b e s ui ta bl e n ot o nl y f or a ge ne ra ti on a lon e b ut f or a ll t im e.

H e' d f in is he d t he m an us cr ip t. D es pi te t he t ro ub le h e' d h ad t ra ck in g d ow n s om e o f t he m or e a rc an e

r ef er en ces h er e i n S ko pent zana, h e' d f in al ly m an ag ed i t. B ut f in is hi ng a b oo k w as o nl y t he f ir st s tep i n

g et ti ng i t i nt o o th er p eo pl e' s h an ds . H e h ad n o t ro ub le r ea di ng h is s pi de ry s cr aw l. A s f ar a s h e c ou ld t el l,

t ha t m ade h im a m in or it y of o ne .

S ko pe nt za na d id n ot b oa st t he s wa rm o f s cr ib es w ho w or ke d i n V id es so s t he c it y. T he c ap it al a ls o h ad

s wa rm s o f s ec re ta ri es a nd c le rk s a nd o th er b ur ea uc ra ts w ho n ee de d t hi ng s w ri tt en b ut o ft en l ac ke d t he

t im e t o d o t he w ri ti ng t he ms el ve s. A nd V id es so s t he c it y h ad m or e p eo pl e w ho c ou ld r ea d t ha n a ny o th er f ou r p la ce s i n t he E mp ir e p ut t og et he r. A dd a ll t ha t u p, a nd i t c ou ld s up po rt s o m an y s cr ib es .

Skopentzana couldn't.

T he o ne R ha va s h ad c ho se n t o w or k w it h w as a m id dl e- ag ed f el lo w n am ed D ig en is . H e p ee re d

s ho rt si gh tedl y at t he p relate w hen R havas s tr od e i nt o h is cramp ed l it tl e s ho p. O nl y a s ho rt si gh ted m an

cou ld s tay a s cr ib e o nce h e g ot i nt o h is m id dl e y ears . M en w it h n or mal v is io n w ho se s ig ht l en gt hened l os t

t he a bi li ty t o r ea d t he s ma ll s cr aw l o f a m an us cr ip t.

"Good morning," Rhavas said.

Digenis brightened. "Ah! Good morning, very holy sir," he said, recognizing Rhavas' voice where he'd

h ad t ro ub le k no wi ng h is f ace. " Ho w are y ou t od ay ?"

" Well eno ug h. " R havas u nb en t eno ug h t o add , " Perh ap s even a b it b et ter t han t hat. "

" I am gl ad t o he ar i t," Di ge nis s ai d. " Is t hi s on a cc ount of t he ne ws f rom t he s out h, ve ry hol y s ir , or do

yo u a ls o h ave o the r r ea so ns

harry turtledove - bridge of the separator

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