I swear those eyes follow me down every corridor like a nursemaid.’
‘A nursemaid? She should have been mother to her own children.’ For a moment Bahl forgot the boy and the God’s gifts below and was drawn into a happier time, but the call of the present - or maybe the future - brought his attention back to Lesarl. ‘So, are you going to tell me what you took down there with Lord Hit? I can feel something unusual, nothing I am familiar with. There is …” His words tailed off.
‘Are you sure?’ began Lesarl.
‘Yes damn you,’ roared Bahl, ‘I think I know my own weaknesses well enough! Your place is not to lecture me.’
Lesarl shrugged, hands held out in a conciliatory gesture. He could not argue with that: it was Lord Bahl’s ability to turn those very weaknesses into strengths that had rebuilt the Parian nation. ‘It’s a suit of armour and a blade.’
‘And?’ demanded the white-eye. ‘I can tell there’s something more - I feel it grating at my bones.’
‘My knowledge is limited, my Lord, but I don’t believe there can be any mistaking them. Siulents and Eolis, the weapons of Aryn Bwr, are back.’
Bahl inadvertently spat out his mouthful of wine and crushed the glass to powdered crystal. Aryn Bwr: the last king. His crimes had caused his true name to be expunged from history. Aryn Bwr, first among mortals, had united the entire elven people after centuries of conflict, and the Gods had showered him with gifts - but peace was not the elven king’s true motive. Aryn Bwr had forged weapons powerful beyond imagination, powerful enough to slay even Gods of the Upper Circle, and he had led his people against their makers. The Great War lasted only seven years, but the taint of the horrors committed by both sides lingered, millennia on.
‘Gods, no wonder Hit didn’t come to me …’ His voice tailed off.
‘I couldn’t believe it, holding Eolis in my hands …’ Lesarl’s voice was shaking too.
‘Is our new Krann fortunate or cursed?’ Bahl wondered.
‘Who knows? The most perfect armour ever made, a blade that killed Gods -1 don’t think I would want them at any price. But blessed or cursed, what does it mean?’
They will make him the focus of every power broker and madman in the entire Land. That is something I would curse few with.’ Bahl frowned, brushing fragments of glass into the fire.
‘How many prophecies mention them?’
‘Neglecting your studies, Lesarl?’
He laughed. ‘I cannot deny it - but in my defence I have been running the nation, so the omission is hopefully forgivable. The whole subject is beyond me, in any case. I can work with the stupidity of people, but prophecies, no, my Lord.’
‘It is the most complicated of sciences; it can take a lifetime to understand the rambling mess they come out with.’
‘So what are we to believe?’
‘Nothing.’ Bahl laughed humourlessly. ‘Live your life according to prophecy? That’s only for the ignorant and the desperate. All you need to know is what others believe: the cult of Shalstik, the prophecy of the Devoted, of the Flower in the Waste, of the Saviour, of the Forsaken … Know your enemy and anticipate his attack. With the unexpected arrival of this new Krann, the eyes of the whole Land will be upon us. The longer we can keep his gifts a secret, the better.’
‘Will that be possible?’ Lesarl looked dubious. ‘When the Krann is seen without gifts, half the wizards in the city will become curious. I don’t know what their daemon guides will be able to tell them, but power attracts attention. Someone will work it out, surely. The Siblis - they could sense them from who knows how far away?’
‘The Siblis used magic so powerful it was killing them, I doubt anyone else will be making so great an effort. But yes, you’re right: at some point someone will work it out, but any delay helps us. If the mages get there first, at least they will probably come to you for confirmation. Flatter their
‘A nursemaid? She should have been mother to her own children.’ For a moment Bahl forgot the boy and the God’s gifts below and was drawn into a happier time, but the call of the present - or maybe the future - brought his attention back to Lesarl. ‘So, are you going to tell me what you took down there with Lord Hit? I can feel something unusual, nothing I am familiar with. There is …” His words tailed off.
‘Are you sure?’ began Lesarl.
‘Yes damn you,’ roared Bahl, ‘I think I know my own weaknesses well enough! Your place is not to lecture me.’
Lesarl shrugged, hands held out in a conciliatory gesture. He could not argue with that: it was Lord Bahl’s ability to turn those very weaknesses into strengths that had rebuilt the Parian nation. ‘It’s a suit of armour and a blade.’
‘And?’ demanded the white-eye. ‘I can tell there’s something more - I feel it grating at my bones.’
‘My knowledge is limited, my Lord, but I don’t believe there can be any mistaking them. Siulents and Eolis, the weapons of Aryn Bwr, are back.’
Bahl inadvertently spat out his mouthful of wine and crushed the glass to powdered crystal. Aryn Bwr: the last king. His crimes had caused his true name to be expunged from history. Aryn Bwr, first among mortals, had united the entire elven people after centuries of conflict, and the Gods had showered him with gifts - but peace was not the elven king’s true motive. Aryn Bwr had forged weapons powerful beyond imagination, powerful enough to slay even Gods of the Upper Circle, and he had led his people against their makers. The Great War lasted only seven years, but the taint of the horrors committed by both sides lingered, millennia on.
‘Gods, no wonder Hit didn’t come to me …’ His voice tailed off.
‘I couldn’t believe it, holding Eolis in my hands …’ Lesarl’s voice was shaking too.
‘Is our new Krann fortunate or cursed?’ Bahl wondered.
‘Who knows? The most perfect armour ever made, a blade that killed Gods -1 don’t think I would want them at any price. But blessed or cursed, what does it mean?’
They will make him the focus of every power broker and madman in the entire Land. That is something I would curse few with.’ Bahl frowned, brushing fragments of glass into the fire.
‘How many prophecies mention them?’
‘Neglecting your studies, Lesarl?’
He laughed. ‘I cannot deny it - but in my defence I have been running the nation, so the omission is hopefully forgivable. The whole subject is beyond me, in any case. I can work with the stupidity of people, but prophecies, no, my Lord.’
‘It is the most complicated of sciences; it can take a lifetime to understand the rambling mess they come out with.’
‘So what are we to believe?’
‘Nothing.’ Bahl laughed humourlessly. ‘Live your life according to prophecy? That’s only for the ignorant and the desperate. All you need to know is what others believe: the cult of Shalstik, the prophecy of the Devoted, of the Flower in the Waste, of the Saviour, of the Forsaken … Know your enemy and anticipate his attack. With the unexpected arrival of this new Krann, the eyes of the whole Land will be upon us. The longer we can keep his gifts a secret, the better.’
‘Will that be possible?’ Lesarl looked dubious. ‘When the Krann is seen without gifts, half the wizards in the city will become curious. I don’t know what their daemon guides will be able to tell them, but power attracts attention. Someone will work it out, surely. The Siblis - they could sense them from who knows how far away?’
‘The Siblis used magic so powerful it was killing them, I doubt anyone else will be making so great an effort. But yes, you’re right: at some point someone will work it out, but any delay helps us. If the mages get there first, at least they will probably come to you for confirmation. Flatter their
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