"But what about Gyphon?" asked Beau. "How does He figure into this?"
Phais smiled grimly, and gestured at the walls. "That is why we have come unto this particular alcove, for the tapestry tells that tale."
"Huah," grunted Beau. "Tells the tale? All I see is someone in a dell who seems to be making a speech."
"Nay, Sir Beau," said Talarin. "Look closely."
Both Tip and Beau stood and stepped closer to the tapestry; then Beau clambered upon a bench and Tip upon a chair for a closer look still.
"Why," said Beau, "these aren't people at all, but instead are…" His voice faded as he shook his head in puzzlement, and he turned toward Talarin. "I say, what are these?"
"Beings of… light?" suggested Tipperton, reaching out to gently touch subtle colors of the silken weaving.
Beau swung back 'round and peered at the figure where Tip's fingers rested, and then at the others. "I say, Tip, they do look as if they're shafts of light… or some such."
Puzzled, Beau turned once more to Talarin. "But I thought that the gods would look like, uh…"
"Like us?" asked Talarin. "In the form of Lian and Waerlinga and Human and other such?"
Beau shrugged.
Talarin smiled and shook his head. "In spite of what some preach, 'tis the greatest of conceits for any peoples to believe they are created in the image of gods."
Tip again ran his fingers lightly across the tapestry. "And these beings of light are the gods?"
Talarin canted his head, and beside Loric, Phais said, "Indeed, Sir Tipperton. 'Tis as close as Lian artisans could come in recording the great debate 'tween Gyphon and Adon o'er the fate of the peoples of the worlds. What thou dost see as beings of light are our attempts to represent the gods: central and in silvery white is Adon, His daughter, golden Elwydd, at hand. On the wall opposite is Gyphon. Over there where thou dost stand, the pale blue figure is Garlon, next to coppery Raes, ruddy Fyrra is over here, as well as dusky Theonor. I will not name them all, but instead will merely say that this represents the time of the schism."
"These are truly the gods, then?" asked Beau, his gaze sweeping 'cross the tapestry.
Talarin and Rael and Loric glanced at one another, then all three looked toward Phais, and she said, "We name them gods, but Adon does not so style Himself. He says that there are those as far above Him as we are above the mayfly."
The buccen climbed down and resumed their seats. As he settled in, Tipperton frowned. "But if they are not gods, then what are they?"
Talarin sighed. "Given what Adon has said, we know not, Sir Tipperton. Only that they are very powerful."
"Bu-but," protested Beau, thunderstruck and staring at the tapestry. "I mean…" His words stumbled to a halt. He glanced at the ceiling then turned to Talarin. "Say, now, just who are these above Adon?"
Yet it was Rael who answered. "Adon says that even He is driven by the Fates. As to whether such beings as the Fates are in some manner incarnate, we cannot say. As to those who might be above the Fates, perhaps none are, though some say the Great Creator stands highest."
"Great Creator?"
"The source of all."
Tip's hand gestured outward, sweeping so as to include the world. "But I thought Adon made Mithgar, and Elwydd His daughter created life hereupon."
Rael nodded. "We too believe as dost thou, Sir Tipperton: that Adon indeed created Mithgar, and Elwydd, His daughter, engendered life herein; we also believe Adon shaped Adonar, but on that High World He alone brought forth all life thereon, including Elvenkind."
"Just as Gyphon created Neddra and the life and folk therein, twisted such as they are," growled Loric.
Phais held up a hand, saying, "There are those of us who believe Adon and Elwydd and Gyphon and all,the others did not bring the worlds and peoples and all else out of nothingness, but instead merely shaped and molded and forged these things out of that which the Great Creator provided."
Tip's eyes widened. "You mean like me whittling a whistle from wood I did not grow, or you weaving this tapestry from thread you did not spin?"
"Just so," agreed Phais.
Beau frowned, then appealed to Rael. "This Great Creator, just who is He? And if He creates all, then why does He create evil things? That's what I'd like to know."
Rael shook her head. "Thou dost ask that which is beyond my ken. Yet this I do believe: the Great Creator is He whose very spirit is in all things-living as well as not living-rocks, streams, trees, birds, animals, fish… all creatures of land and sea and air, and the land and sea and air itself, as well as the sun and moon and stars and light and darkness… everything… and ere ye ask, I deem His creations mayhap include Adon, Gyphon, and others whom we name gods. I believe that some gifted folk-mortal and immortal alike-can sense this spirit in their hearts and souls, while other individuals can see its aura in all things."
"Aura?" Beau looked at Rael and frowned. "Just what is this 'aura'?"
Rael smiled. "Some see it as a faint glow; others as an astral. It is but an outward sign of who the Great Creator is, an outward sign of what He does."
Again Beau frowned. "And some of what he does is create evil things?"
Rael nodded. "Indeed, Sir Beau, some of his creations are malignant, whereas many are benign, yet most are neither good nor ill but merely exist, and their effect upon others is determined at times by chance and at other times by the intent of those who employ them for good or ill. Sir Beau, thou hast asked why the Great Creator begets evil things; heed me: I believe that He knows neither good nor evil but merely creation. It is up to those creations themselves-those who can-to freely choose which path to take: sinister or dextral.
"This is, of course, what I believe. There are those who would dispute my claims, saying that all is foreordained, and this the Great Creator knows, and that none has a choice at all.
"Others believe as does Phais, that He creates some things, while others with the power to do so use His creations to shape still other things from them.
"And then there are those who say that there is no Great Creator whatsoever, and that all is ruled by laws which we do not now apprehend but which are nonetheless true, laws which govern even Adon and Elwydd and Gyphon and all else as well."
Rael fell silent, and both Tip and Beau sighed and shook their heads in bafflement. But then Tip held out a hand toward Phais. "I believe as you do, Lady Phais, that we can make things from that which Adon and Elwydd provided. Whether they themselves in turn used the creations of the Great Creator to make Adonar and Mithgar and the peoples thereupon, well, that I cannot say. Just as I cannot say that Gyphon made Neddra and the peoples therein." Now Tip turned to Rael. "Yet I also believe in something you said, Lady Raeclass="underline" there is a force, a spirit, a power in everything, be it a rock, a tree, a stream, or aught else, for although I don't actually see it, I believe I sense it, and if these things I feel are evidence of a Great Creator, then He does indeed exist."
Rael looked at Tipperton and nodded in agreement, and once again Talarin took up the wine flask and replenished all silver cups with the dark Vanchan drink, saying to the buccen, "We have ranged far afield from our original intent. Is there aught else ye would ask?"
Beau looked at Tip, then turned to Phais. "Lady, you did say something about a debate and a schism."
Phais sipped from her cup, then nodded. "Indeed, for 'twas the debate which resulted in some folk being free and others being bound."
"Free and bound?" asked Tipperton. "Say, now, what was this debate all about?"
Phais gestured at the tapestry. "Long past in Adonar there was a great disputation. At question was the gods' interference in the lives of the lesser folk, of mortals and immortals alike. The two mightiest gods-Adon and Gyphon-quarreled bitterly, with Adon holding that the gods would destroy those whom they would control, and Gyphon contending that it is the right of gods to do as they will. Adon spoke eloquently, saying that gods should give free choice unto all created beings-for were they not folk in their own right which only the Fates should sway?-whereas sly-tongued Gyphon, His voice dripping honey, argued forcefully for absolute dominion in all things-for were not these worlds and inferior beings shaped by the gods' own hands for purposes only they knew? Some of the gods sided with Gyphon-Brell, Naxon, Ordo, and mayhap one or two more-but most allied themselves with Adon."