‘Come, Bel,’ said Fahren, mercifully appearing. ‘We have things to discuss.’
As Fahren, Bel and Jaya made their way out of the Inviolable, Gerent Brahl caught up to them. His physique did not suggest a man who was easily puffed, thought Bel, so the rosy colour in his cheeks had to be the result of something else.
‘High Mage, Blade Bel,’ said the gerent. ‘We must speak immediately.’
‘I had hoped –’ began Fahren, but Brahl cut him off.
‘I’m sorry, Fahren, I must insist. Perhaps you will be so good as to accompany me to the barracks?’
Fahren sighed. ‘Very well.’
They sat around a table in the meeting room. Jaya, surprisingly, had suggested she would make herself busy elsewhere. Bel had to remind himself that perhaps she did not want to be embroiled in all the fuss that seemed to accompany him wherever he went.
In the absence of a sanctified Throne, the gerent and High Mage were the two most powerful men in Kainordas – Brahl the military leader, and Fahren commanding the magical forces. Bel wasn’t sure if one technically outranked the other, but it did not seem to matter: the two men spoke as equals.
‘I shall talk plainly,’ said Brahl, seeming to relax a little now that he was in his own space. ‘Thedd was right about one thing – our need for strong leadership. I don’t know when war will come but I suspect,’ he eyed Bel closely, ‘that it will be soon. Total war, all-out war, at the end of which there will finally be a victor.’
‘I see you are a man who believes in the prophecy,’ said Fahren. ‘That is well.’
‘It is hard to ignore,’ said Brahl. ‘We know the shadow possesses a blue-haired man – and miraculously, today, one is delivered to us. I do not understand, High Mage – I thought there was meant to be but one.’
‘I shall explain,’ said Fahren. He proceeded to give the gerent a detailed account of Bel’s birth and the time that followed. Bel listened with interest, enjoying hearing a story in which he was the main character. Brahl frowned throughout but did not interrupt.
‘These are strange tidings,’ he said when Fahren was done. ‘I’m not sure I understand your motives in keeping Bel hidden. Our people have long believed the blue-haired child was lost to the shadow. It would have been good for morale had they known we still could hope. But I suppose it is done, for better or worse, and we must look to the future.’
‘Indeed,’ said Fahren. ‘Now, for what reason have you called us here?’
Brahl shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ‘Thedd,’ he said.
‘What of him?’
‘I do not …’ Brahl screwed up his face. ‘I have never been one for subtlety, but these are difficult words to speak openly.’
‘They will not leave the room,’ said Fahren. ‘What is it, Brahl?’
‘We need someone strong to govern us, yet Thedd has no military experience – by Arkus, he’s hardly even been to court! The way he runs Tria is haphazard at best, even down to his own household. I have been there, Fahren, I have seen his servants, circles under the eyes from overlong hours and unrealistic orders. And you remember the trade fiasco with the Zyvanix?’
‘I do.’
‘And the Throne, Arkus rest him, at one stage even considered stripping Thedd of rank – perhaps you did not know I was privy to that. Does that sound like the kind of man to lead us?’
Fahren stared hard at him. ‘You want to change the traditions of a thousand years?’ he asked. ‘You are suggesting …treason?’
Brahl scowled. ‘I don’t call it treason to strive to protect our people as best we can. Will they thank me for upholding tradition if it means losing their homes and their lives? I simply don’t think Kainordas can afford such a ruler during these tumultuous times.’
‘The prophecy does not say when there will be war,’ said Fahren.
‘High Mage, they have killed our Throne, the blue-haired man is revealed, and the people clamour for revenge. Now is the time to build our army, while hearts are hot. At the very least it would be prudent. Even if war comes not tomorrow, it will be soon.’
‘Indeed,’ Fahren acceded. ‘Well, let’s say that I happen to agree with you. What is your plan?’
‘Until this morning I was going to suggest …well, that you, High Mage, take the crown. There is even precedent for High Mages doing so when a Throne in unexpectedly lost.’
Fahren turned white. ‘Not when there is a clear heir,’ he said.
‘That was before …well …’ Brahl glanced at Bel. Bel realised what the man was getting at, and mixed feelings fired through him. Imagining what he could achieve with ultimate power was interesting, yet he also knew it would be a shackle. He felt a burning desire to begin his mission to find the Stone, and he didn’t see how he could do that and also rule Kainordas. Bel had always had a love-hate relationship with his responsibility – while he enjoyed being special, he did not think he would have chosen to bear such a burden as currently rested upon his shoulders. Maybe that was why he rushed towards his goal – so that he could get it done, out of the way, then get on with the business of basking in the glory. If he was Throne, however, the responsibilities would never end, even after victory.
‘I don’t know you well, Bel,’ said the gerent. ‘Though I’ve heard some tales, especially of how you fought in Drel. Arkus knows I would have taken more interest in you had I guessed …at any rate, the people will surely rally to you. I could not imagine a more natural figurehead.’
Bel nodded. ‘And when the time comes, I will gladly lead the charge. However, I was born to fight, not to rule. You have heard Fahren speak of what I must accomplish – I have been charged by Arkus himself to retrieve the Stone of Evenings Mild. Thus, for a time at least, my path leads elsewhere.’
‘I agree,’ said Fahren. ‘A direct order from Arkus should not be ignored.’
‘I see,’ said Brahl. ‘Then I return to my original suggestion. The High Mage has always been revered, seen as powerful and wise. The best part is, I happen to know that’s true.’
Fahren shifted uncomfortably. ‘But to seize the throne – that is a little different from stepping into an interim stewardship, as has been done by High Mages in the past. It cannot be denied that Thedd is the closest blood relative to Naphur.’
‘Your reluctance is exactly why it should be you and not him,’ said Brahl. ‘We simply cannot take the risk of jeopardising everything so Thedd can play out his fantasies.’
‘But how?’
‘Easily enough,’ said Brahl. ‘I command the military, you command the mages …what does Thedd command? Some backwater fort in Tria?’
‘We still need a reason,’ cautioned Fahren. ‘We cannot simply say, “Sorry, you are not good enough.”’
Brahl licked his lips. ‘I could arrange for something to …befall him.’
Bel had not been expecting such a bold proposition. His admiration of Brahl grew – the man was obviously willing to do what it took.
‘I should not include the blue-haired man, perhaps, in such a discussion,’ added Brahl apologetically.
‘I care not,’ said Bel. ‘If Thedd stands in the way of the greater good –’
‘Unjustly eliminating the man makes things easier in the short term,’ Fahren interrupted, ‘but ultimately would not solve our problem. There are others in line to take over, some as self-interested as he. As the blood lines grow muddier there is room for debate, and civic upheaval could be more damaging right now than Thedd Naphur on the throne.’
They lapsed into silence. Bel got up and went to the window. It was so irritating that they needed to concern themselves with one silly noble when they already faced so much. He felt a rising need to do something and thought again about accepting the crown, but the idea simply did not feel right . It would mean extreme constriction at a time when he needed the freedom to move. And why did he need a crown, when the hair on his head already set him apart from, even above, all others? The people would follow him no matter who sat in some tall seat in the Open Halls.