The Quest - Smith Wilbur (читаем книги онлайн бесплатно TXT) 📗

Do you understand?'

'Yes, Magus.'

'There is one other matter, good Meren. There is every chance that I will not prevail against Eos. She may destroy me as she has done all the others she has sucked into her thrall. If that happens I shall warn Fenn before it is over. You must not attempt to rescue me. You must take Fenn with the others of our band and fly from Jarri. Try to find your way back to Karnak and warn Pharaoh of what has happened.'

'Yes, Magus.'

'Guard Fenn with your life. Do not let her fall alive into the clutches of Eos. You understand what I mean by that?'

'I do, Magus. I will pray to Horus and the trinity that it will not be necessary, but I will defend Fenn and Sidudu to the end.'

Taita smiled. 'Yes, my old and trusted friend. Sidudu may be the one for whom you have waited so long.'

'She reminds me so strongly of the Princess Merykara when first I fell in love with her,' Meren said simply.

'You deserve all the joy Sidudu can bring you and more,' Taita whispered. 'But hush now. Here comes Onka.'

Onka stormed into the room. He was making no attempt to conceal his annoyance.

'Did you find her?' Taita asked.

'You know I did not.' Onka went back to the doorway of the bedchamber and stood there for a while, glowering suspiciously into the empty room. Then, with an angry shake of his head, he came back to Taita. 'We must leave at once for the citadel.'

I I

'I will need warm clothing if the oligarchs send me to the Cloud Gardens.'

'It will be provided,' Onka told him. 'Come.'

Taita clasped Meren's upper arm in farewell. 'Be firm in resolve and steadfast in courage,' he said softly, then followed Onka out into the stableyard. One of Onka's men was holding a bay mare, saddled for the road. Taita stopped short. 'Where is my mare, Windsmoke?' he demanded.

'The grooms tell me that she is lame and cannot be ridden,' Onka replied.

'I must see to her before we leave.'

'That is not possible. My orders are to escort you to the citadel without delay.'

Taita argued a little longer, but it was to no avail. He looked back despairingly at Meren.

'I will care for Windsmoke, Magus. You need not fret.'

Taita mounted the strange horse, and they rode out through the gate.

It was the middle of the following morning when they reached the palace of the oligarchs. Once again, Taita was taken to the antechamber.

There was a basin of hot water in which he refreshed himself while one of the palace servants held a clean linen towel for him. The same servant gave him a meal of spiced chicken and a bowl of red wine.

Then the usher came to lead him through into the Supreme Council's chamber. With the utmost respect, the man settled him on a woollen mat at the front of the room just below the dais. Taita looked carefully about him, then concentrated on the leather screen. He could detect no trace of Eos. He relaxed and composed himself, for he expected a long wait.

However, a short time later, the guards filed in and took up their positions below the dais. The usher announced the entrance of the oligarchs: 'Pray show respect for the honourable lords of the Supreme Council.'

Taita made his obeisance but watched the oligarchs from under his eyelashes as they filed in from behind the screen. Once again they were

led by Lord Aquer. Taita was surprised that there were only two: Lord Caithor was missing. Aquer and his companion seated themselves1 on their stools and left the third unoccupied.I Aquer smiled. 'You are welcome. Please be at ease, Magus. You are among your peers.'

Taita was surprised by this, but tried not to show it. He straightened and leant back against the cushions. 'You are gracious, Lord Aquer,' he said.

Aquer smiled again, then addressed the usher and the commander of the palace guards: 'We wish to be alone. Please leave us and do not return until you are summoned. Make certain that no stranger listens at the doors.'

The guards thumped the butts of their spears upon the floor, then filed out. The usher followed them, walking backwards with his whole body doubled over in a low bow.

As soon as they were gone and the great doors were closed Aquer spoke again: 'At our last meeting I did not formally introduce you to the noble Lord Ek-Tang.' Taita and the councillor exchanged a seated bow. Ek-Tang was a short, portly man of indeterminate age and Asiatic features. His eyes were coal black and inscrutable.

Lord Aquer went on: 'We have excellent reports from the surgeons of the Cloud Gardens. We have been told that the operation on Colonel Cambyses' eye was a complete success.'

'It was an amazing achievement,' Taita agreed, 'He has regained the full sight of the eye. Not only that, but the organ is completely natural in appearance. It cannot be differentiated from its twin in any way.'

'Our surgeons are the most advanced on earth, but their greatest achievement is yet to come,' Aquer told him.

Taita inclined his head in enquiry but remained silent.

'We shall return to that later,' said Aquer, with a mysterious air, evidently designed to intrigue Taita. Then, abruptly, he changed the subject. 'You will notice that Lord Caithor is not here,' he said.

'Indeed, my lord. I was surprised by his absence.'

'He was an old man, and wearied by the weight of years. Tragically he passed away in his sleep ten days ago. His end was peaceful and without suffering.'

'We should all be so fortunate,' said Taita, 'but I mourn his passing with you.'

'You are a man of compassion,' said Aquer, 'but the fact remains that there is now an empty seat on the Supreme Council. We have conferred

at length and prayed most earnestly for guidance from the one true goddess, whose name will soon be disclosed to you.'

Taita bowed in acknowledgement of this favour.

Aquer went on: 'We have reached the conclusion that one man is eminently suited for election to the Council in Lord Caithor's place.

That man is you, Taita of Gallala.'

Again Taita bowed, but this time he was truly speechless.

Aquer continued genially, 'It is the decree of the Supreme Council that you are to be ennobled, with the title Lord Taita.' Again Taita bowed. 'There is, however, one impediment to your election. It is customary for members of the Council to be whole and healthy. You, Lord Taita, through no fault of your own, have suffered a grievous injury that disqualifies you from this position. However, that need not be final.

Your protege, Colonel Cambyses, was sent to the Cloud Gardens for treatment but not on the merits of his case. Access to these extraordinary procedures is usually reserved for the most worthy members of our society.

It is difficult to place a value on the immense cost of the treatments. You will learn more of this later. Officers of low or intermediate military rank do not usually qualify. Cambyses was chosen to convince you of the possibilities that exist. Without this demonstration, you would certainly have been sceptical and would most likely have declined to participate.'

'What you say is indubitably true. However, I am glad for the sake of Meren Cambyses that he was chosen.'

'As are we all,' Aquer agreed unconvincingly. 'That is no longer relevant. What is, though, is that you have been examined by the surgeons and, as a nobleman and elected member of the Supreme Council, you are entitled to preferential treatment. The surgeons of the Cloud Gardens have been warned of your imminent arrival. Their preparations to receive you are well advanced, which accounts for the delay in informing you. It takes time to make such preparations, but now the seeds have been harvested. The surgeons await your arrival.

Are you prepared to take the opportunity that you are offered?'