“So?” said Iaachus.
“We believe it to be the medallion and chain stolen from the festung of Sim Giadini on Tangara, delivered to Ingeld, most likely by some agent of the Exarch of Telnar.”
“I recall we spoke of such a thing, a medallion and chain, long ago,” said Iaachus.
“It is a symbol of the Vandal nation,” said Julian. “It can rally the tribes of that nation to unity. The empire, united with the Vandal nation, could turn back the Alemanni. It was delivered to Ingeld, of the Drisriaks, that he might rise to unexampled barbarian power, uniting both the Alemanni and Vandals against the empire. To prevent this I had duplicates smithed and distributed to a hundred worlds. Who would then know the true medallion and chain? This stratagem confounded Ingeld’s plan.”
“You suspect, I gather,” said Iaachus, “that this object before me, the first of its kind I have seen, is the true medallion and chain?”
“We think so,” said Julian, “as it was found in the hall of Ingeld.”
“I see it as worthless,” said Iaachus, “indeed, worthless by your own hand, for who, after your plentiful distribution of surrogates, could attest its authenticity?”
“I have explained that to Ottonius,” said Julian.
“Still,” said Otto, “I would not have it housed in the hall of a Drisriak.”
“Surely,” said Rurik, “there must be some who could tell the true artifact from its duplicates.”
“Many years ago, as I understand it,” said Julian, “a Herul delivered it to the festung, but I know little of him other than his name, Hunlaki. It was all long ago. Too, Heruls seldom live long lives, as younger Heruls frequently kill them for their wagons, their horses, and weapons. Too, even if he should be alive, we do not know his camp, nor would he be likely to remember the object with fidelity. Too, it is dangerous to approach Heruls.”
“You say, a Herul?” said Iaachus.
“Yes,” said Julian. “Why?”
“Nothing,” said Iaachus.
“What of the guardian of the artifact?” asked Rurik. “He must have lived with it for years.”
“He is dead,” said Julian.
“How so?” asked Rurik.
“He was an Emanationist brother,” said Julian. “The festung was attacked, and demolished.”
“It was done by imperial cruisers, to eliminate a nest of heretics, according to the empress mother,” said Iaachus.
“And perhaps to cover a theft as well,” said Julian.
“The brother perished in the destruction of the festung?” asked Rurik.
“Yes,” said Julian.
“If this brother should have survived, and could recognize the genuine artifact,” said Iaachus, “why would anyone take him seriously?”
“Otungs would take him seriously,” said Otto. “He was of the high, remote, glorious, and holy festung of Sim Giadini, which had stood for a thousand years, commanding the heights of the Barrionuevo Range. This is known in the forests of the Otungs, and on both sides of the Lothar. It is known on the Plains of Barrionuevo, and amongst even the Heruls, on what they call the Flats of Tung. Even in the provincial capital, Venitzia, the festung is known. And the trustworthiness, the truthfulness, the honesty, the holiness of the brothers is legendary.”
“What was the name of this brother,” asked Iaachus, “he who was the guardian of this artifact, of the medallion and chain?”
“Brother Benjamin,” said Julian.
“He is in Telnar,” said Iaachus.
“Take me to him!” said Otto.
59
“So,” said Iaachus, “the great day has come.”
“All is in readiness,” said Julian.
“I would things were otherwise,” said Otto. “Better to be hunting on Varna, riding on Vellmer.”
“What will become of Sesella, Gerune, Renata, Flora, if we fail?” asked Tuvo Ausonius.
“Little,” said Iaachus, “they are women, and marked. New collars, new chains, new selling platforms, new Masters to serve and please.”
Elena, at the serving table in the office of Iaachus, trembled, and her hands shook on the decanter, the kana a small, golden storm in the vessel.
“Be careful, girl,” said Rurik. “If you spill the wine, you will be whipped.”
“Forgive me, Master,” whispered Elena.
“Do not concern yourself, noble Rurik,” said Iaachus. “She is my property. Her skin is mine. She is mine to discipline as I might please.”
“Of course,” said Rurik.
“Your troops, of the Farnichi, are prepared,” said Julian.
“They are in position,” said Rurik.
“The Farnichi,” said Iaachus, “owe the empire much.”
“The bargain was struck,” said Rurik. “The Farnichi abide its terms. My presence here is an attestment to that fact.”
“But unofficially, covertly, of course,” said Iaachus.
“Of course,” said Rurik.
“Cohorts loyal to me await our signal,” said Julian, “elements of the guard, chosen army units, selected landing units of the imperial navy.”
“But much, locally, I fear,” said Iaachus, “depends on comitates, brought from Tangara, ostensibly to witness and assist in the celebration of the royal nuptials.”
“I would think, dear Arbiter,” said Rurik, “you would view the presence of Otungs in Telnar with apprehension.”
“I do,” said Iaachus. “One gambles.”
“The comitates are allies,” said Julian, “auxiliaries in the imperial forces.”
“They are barbarians,” said Rurik.
“So is our noble Ottonius,” said Iaachus.
“I am aware of that,” said Rurik.
“It behooves you to pretend confidence and trust, dear Rurik,” said Julian, “even if it does not exist. Beware of offending allies, or their commander.”
“More is at issue here,” said Rurik, “than the loyalty of Captain Ottonius, with whose secret thoughts I am perforce unacquainted. There are others, as well.”
“Each company,” said Otto, “is commanded by a pledged man, each an Otung, Vandar, Ulrich, or Citherix.”
“Barbarians, all,” said Rurik.
“I am sure of them,” said Otto. “I am less sure of Telnarians.”
“I am a Telnarian,” said Rurik.
“I am aware of that,” said Otto.
“Crossroads will be seized, guard stations, public buildings, the house of the senate,” said Julian. “The new order will be publicly announced.”
“We can hold the palace only briefly,” said Iaachus.
“If we can hold the palace,” said Julian, “we will hold Telnar, as well.”
“Not against the summoned, marshaled forces of the empire,” said Iaachus.
“As the palace goes, so goes the empire,” said Julian. “Many a coup has overturned a dynasty and was scarcely noted in the empire. One need not have generals marching on Telnar, foreign armies in the streets, cities sacked, worlds burned, alien fleets overhead. Many revolutions are quiet, moving on soft feet in the night, taking place in bedrooms and halls. Daggers and goblets of poison have emptied more thrones than wars. In time new names are sung, and new statues, scarcely noticed, appear in public places. Life continues as it has, and will. What ambassador from far worlds, what bureaucrat from afar, recalls vanished flags and banners? What master of what trading commission, what visiting potentate, questions what he finds?”
“I fear it is true,” said Tuvo Ausonius. “I was employed on Miton, in the financial division of the first imperial quadrant. I often suspected our work would go on much as usual regardless of what might occur in Telnar, let alone in the palace.”
“Much would be different,” said Iaachus, “if the empire collapsed.”
“Surely,” said Tuvo Ausonius.
“I fear,” said Iaachus, “we will soon hear the bells, the music, the acclaim of the crowds.”