The Way of Things: Upper Kingdom Boxed Set: Books 1, 2 and 3 in the Tails of the Upper Kingdom by H. Leighton Dickson
Authors: H. Leighton Dickson
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watched him grow wary,
guarded. Kirin began to move slowly about the chamber.
“And
why this time, in the Middle of the Watch, not the End? You saw us coming, also
that we would be too late. We arrived before the End of the Watch when the
deaths had previously occurred. It should not have been ‘too late.’”
Sireth
glanced at the Major, as if looking to her for clarification, or of all things,
reassurance.
“I don’t understand—“
“These assaults , as you call them, are obviously carried out by a very powerful
soul. Perhaps one that has learned to project such thoughts into older, more
trusting ones. I’m sure it wouldn’t take much to stop an aged heart such as
Mercouri’s, would it?”
“How
dare you?” the Seer growled and for the second time, Kirin saw his tail lash.
He rose to his feet, Ursa a sleek, white shadow.
“How dare you
suggest—“
“I
suggest everything. And nothing. It is simply my job.”
“Your
job? Your job? I am no fool, Captain, nor am I naive. I know full well
how I am regarded in the Courts of Pol’Lhasa. But the Empress Herself
approved my confirmation despite the debates and I admired her greatly for it.
Pray tell me then Captain, how a woman as revolutionary as she, can surround
herself with people who simply ‘do their jobs’?”
“Cut out his tongue,” snapped the
Major. “Then blind him completely.”
The
Captain was not a man who relished his power. Indeed, he bore it in all
seriousness and at this precise moment, when he should have been furious, he
felt strangely calm. With a deep breath, he straightened his back, slid his
palm away from the hilt of his sword. It had gone there of its own.
“As
the Captain of Her Excellency’s Guard and Under Her Absolute Authority, I
hereby abolish the Council of Seven. As a result, Sireth benAramis is removed
from the Office of Council Member and is placed under my jurisprudence.
Responsibility for the running of the monastery of Sha’Hadin falls
directly upon my shoulders now and will be so until my order or that of Her
Excellency Thothloryn Parillaud Markova Wu.”
Sireth benAramis gaped at him, the
look of a man with a dagger thrust through his heart.
“How can you do such a thing? We
have done nothing but serve and serve, then die in that service!”
“Major, I order you to accompany
this man to his chamber. See that he sleeps and sleeps well. You are not to let
him out of your sight for an instant. If he resists, you have leave to kill
him. Is that understood?”
“Yes sir.”
The Captain turned to regard the
Seer, who was shaking his head in disbelief.
“How
can I sleep? With what you have done, abolishing the Council, bringing Sha’Hadin under control of the Army… It is better she kill me now, for I shall in no wise
sleep.”
“I am also no fool, sidi, nor am I naive. I wish to believe
you an innocent man. If you are so, then you are in danger and thus in need of
rest and strength for that which faces you tonight. If you are guilty, then you
will die by my hand so you may as well enjoy your dreams, for they shall be
your last.”
Ursa
slunk in at his side, her pale eyes gleaming in the dim light. She stood on
tiptoe, for the Seer was a good head taller than she and she stretched up her
small chin, so her lips were only a breath away.
“Better to be tending goats...”
Sireth
pushed off, his long legs taking him out of the Hall of the Seers in seconds,
his robes billowing, tail lashing. And behind him, the Major, heels clacking
like the rattling of many spears.
For
a long moment, there was silence in the Hall of the Seers.
Kirin
Wynegarde-Grey shuddered and released the breath he had been holding. He had,
within a heartbeat of a heartbeat, almost killed the last Seer of Sha’Hadin. The brazen words had deserved it. Even now, he wasn’t entirely certain why he
hadn’t.
With
the remains of the mouse hanging from her talons, the falcon was watching him.
***
Two figures arrived at
guarded. Kirin began to move slowly about the chamber.
“And
why this time, in the Middle of the Watch, not the End? You saw us coming, also
that we would be too late. We arrived before the End of the Watch when the
deaths had previously occurred. It should not have been ‘too late.’”
Sireth
glanced at the Major, as if looking to her for clarification, or of all things,
reassurance.
“I don’t understand—“
“These assaults , as you call them, are obviously carried out by a very powerful
soul. Perhaps one that has learned to project such thoughts into older, more
trusting ones. I’m sure it wouldn’t take much to stop an aged heart such as
Mercouri’s, would it?”
“How
dare you?” the Seer growled and for the second time, Kirin saw his tail lash.
He rose to his feet, Ursa a sleek, white shadow.
“How dare you
suggest—“
“I
suggest everything. And nothing. It is simply my job.”
“Your
job? Your job? I am no fool, Captain, nor am I naive. I know full well
how I am regarded in the Courts of Pol’Lhasa. But the Empress Herself
approved my confirmation despite the debates and I admired her greatly for it.
Pray tell me then Captain, how a woman as revolutionary as she, can surround
herself with people who simply ‘do their jobs’?”
“Cut out his tongue,” snapped the
Major. “Then blind him completely.”
The
Captain was not a man who relished his power. Indeed, he bore it in all
seriousness and at this precise moment, when he should have been furious, he
felt strangely calm. With a deep breath, he straightened his back, slid his
palm away from the hilt of his sword. It had gone there of its own.
“As
the Captain of Her Excellency’s Guard and Under Her Absolute Authority, I
hereby abolish the Council of Seven. As a result, Sireth benAramis is removed
from the Office of Council Member and is placed under my jurisprudence.
Responsibility for the running of the monastery of Sha’Hadin falls
directly upon my shoulders now and will be so until my order or that of Her
Excellency Thothloryn Parillaud Markova Wu.”
Sireth benAramis gaped at him, the
look of a man with a dagger thrust through his heart.
“How can you do such a thing? We
have done nothing but serve and serve, then die in that service!”
“Major, I order you to accompany
this man to his chamber. See that he sleeps and sleeps well. You are not to let
him out of your sight for an instant. If he resists, you have leave to kill
him. Is that understood?”
“Yes sir.”
The Captain turned to regard the
Seer, who was shaking his head in disbelief.
“How
can I sleep? With what you have done, abolishing the Council, bringing Sha’Hadin under control of the Army… It is better she kill me now, for I shall in no wise
sleep.”
“I am also no fool, sidi, nor am I naive. I wish to believe
you an innocent man. If you are so, then you are in danger and thus in need of
rest and strength for that which faces you tonight. If you are guilty, then you
will die by my hand so you may as well enjoy your dreams, for they shall be
your last.”
Ursa
slunk in at his side, her pale eyes gleaming in the dim light. She stood on
tiptoe, for the Seer was a good head taller than she and she stretched up her
small chin, so her lips were only a breath away.
“Better to be tending goats...”
Sireth
pushed off, his long legs taking him out of the Hall of the Seers in seconds,
his robes billowing, tail lashing. And behind him, the Major, heels clacking
like the rattling of many spears.
For
a long moment, there was silence in the Hall of the Seers.
Kirin
Wynegarde-Grey shuddered and released the breath he had been holding. He had,
within a heartbeat of a heartbeat, almost killed the last Seer of Sha’Hadin. The brazen words had deserved it. Even now, he wasn’t entirely certain why he
hadn’t.
With
the remains of the mouse hanging from her talons, the falcon was watching him.
***
Two figures arrived at
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